Skip to main content

Full text of "Bulletin of the African Bird Club"

See other formats 


^4r02- 


icon 


Bird  Club 


Bulletin  of  the  African  Bird  Club  Vol  17  No  2 September  2010 


The  perilious 
conservation  of  the 
montane  forests  of 
northern  Mozambique 


Importance  of 
Aloe  marlothii  for 
opportunistic  avian 
nectarivores 


Investigating  Lesser 
Flamingo  movements 
using  satellite-telemetry 


Slender-billed  Curlew 
in  Africa 


A new  subspecies 
of  Rock  Firefinch  in 
north-east  Nigeria? 


Streaky-breasted 
Flufftail  in  Benin 


First  record  of 
Chilean  Skua  in  the 
African  region 


Birding  Rwanda  in 
search  of  Albertine 
Rift  endemics 


ISSN  1 352-481 XISSN  1352-481X 


^ fifrican  Bird  Club 


The  African  Bird  Club  aims  to: 

• provide  a worldwide  focus  for  African  ornithology 

• encourage  an  interest  in  the  conservation  of  the 
birds  of  the  region 

• liaise  with  and  promote  the  work  of  existing  region- 
al societies 

• publish  a twice-yearly  colour  bulletin 

• encourage  observers  to  visit  lesser  known  areas  of 
the  region 

• encourage  observers  to  actively  search  for  globally 
threatened  and  near-threatened  species 

• run  the  ABC  Conservation  Programme 

Registered  Charity  No  1053920 

ABC  Membership 

Membership  is  open  to  all.  Annual  subscription  rates  are: 

Individual  Europe  & Africa:  UK£1 8 Rest  of  the  World:  UK£20 

Family  Europe  & Africa:  UK£21  Rest  of  the  World:  UK£23 

Student  Europe  & Africa:  UKL10  Rest  of  the  World:  UK£12 

Supporting  UK£30  minimum 
Life  UK£350 

To  join  or  for  further  details  please  visit  the  ABC  website  (where 
there  are  secure  online  payment  facilities)  or  write  to  the  Membership 
Secretary — see  contact  information  below. 

ABC  Website 

http://www.africanbirdclub.org 

Referees  for  Bull.  ABC  Vol.  17 

John  Ash,  John  Atkins,  Phil  Atkinson,  Nicola  Baccetti,  Bas  van 
Balen,  Ruben  Barone,  Nik  Borrow,  Stephan  Brehme,  Patrick  Claffey, 
Ron  Demey,  Harvey  van  Diek,  Robert  J.  Dowsett,  Franchise  Dowsett- 
Lemaire,  Derek  Engelbrecht,  Lincoln  Fishpool,  Hilary  Fry,  Cees 
Hazevoet,  Guy  Kirwan,  Peter  Lack,  Olivier  Langrand,  Jeremy  Lindsell, 
Michel  Louette,  Graham  McCulloch,  Martim  Melo,  Michael  Mills, 
Bob  Payne,  Nigel  Redman,  Roger  Safford,  Jean-Marc  Thiollay, 
Steph  Tyler 


ABC  Council 

Phil  Atkinson,  Keith  Betton  (Chairman),  John  Caddick  (Vice- 
Chairman),  Stephen  Cameron,  Clive  Dickson,  Chris  Magin,  Nigel 
Redman,  Danae  Sheehan,  Sue  Walsh  (Secretary)  and  Alan  Williams 
(Treasurer) 

President:  Tasso  Leventis 
Vice  President:  Martin  Woodcock 

Bulletin  Editorial  Board 

Chairman  of  the  Board:  Keith  Betton 
Managing  Editor:  Guy  Kirwan 
Assistant  Editor:  Ron  Demey 

David  Allan,  Chris  Bowden,  Callan  Cohen,  Lincoln  Fishpool,  Peter 
Lack,  Pete  Leonard  (Graphics  Editor),  Jeremy  Lindsell,  Nigel  Redman 
and  Steph  Tyler 

Contact  ABC 

African  Bird  Club,  c/o  BirdLife  International,  Wellbrook  Court, 
Girton  Road,  Cambridge  CB3  ONA.  E-mail:  • info@africanbirdclub. 
org  • website:  http://www.africanbirdclub.org 
Further  information  can  be  obtained  directly  from  individual 
Council  members  by  writing  to  them  at  the  Club’s  postal  address,  or 
by  e-mail  as  follows: 

Chairman  Keith  Betton  • chairman@africanbirdclub.org 
Secretary  Sue  Walsh  • secretary@africanbirdclub.org 
Treasurer  Alan  Williams  • treasurer@africanbirdclub.org 
Bulletin  Editor  Guy  Kirwan  • editor@africanbirdclub.org 
Conservation  Officer  Chris  Magin 

• conservation@africanbirdclub.org 

Information  Officer  Keith  Betton  • info@africanbirdclub.org 
Membership  Secretary  Danae  Sheehan 

• membership@africanbirdclub.org 
Representatives  Coordinator  Clive  Dickson 

• reps@africanbirdclub.org 
Corporate  Sponsors  Officer  Stephen  Cameron 

• corporatesponsors@africanbirdclub.org 

Photographers  and  artists 

ABC  is  always  looking  for  drawings  and  photos  to  publish  in  the 
Bulletin.  If  you  are  interested  in  contributing,  please  contact  the 
Graphics  Editor,  Pete  Leonard,  pleonard@care4free.net 


ABC  particularly  wishes  to  thank  its  Corporate  Sponsors  for  their  invaluable  financial  support  in  2010:  Abacus  African  Safaris,  Ashanti 
African  Tours,  Access  Africa  Safaris,  Aim  4 Africa,  Bens  Ecological  Safaris,  Bird  Feeding  Station,  Birdfinders,  Birding  Africa,  Birding 
and  beyond  Safaris,  Birding  Ecotours,  Birdquest,  Birdwatching  Breaks,  Calluna  Books,  Close  Encounters,  Crystal  Safaris,  Field  Guides, 
Greentours,  Hyde-Lascelles,  Lake  Kitandara  Tours  and  Travel,  Lawson’s  Birdwatching  Tours,  Limosa  Holidays,  MKA  Ecology,  Naturetrek, 
Ornitholidays,  Rockjumper,  Sarus  Bird  Tours,  Sunbird,  Turaco  Tours,  Turtle  Bay  Beach  Club,  WildSounds,  Wildwings,  and  Zeiss. 


The  Bulletin  of  the  African  Bird  Club 


The  Bulletin  of  the  ABC  provides  a forum  for  news,  letters, 
notices,  recent  publications,  expedition  results,  reviews  and 
interim  publication  of  studies  on  African  birds  by  contribu- 
tors from  throughout  the  world.  Publication  of  results  in  the 
Bulletin  of  the  ABC  does  not  preclude  publication  of  final 
results  as  journal  papers  either  by  the  ABC  or  elsewhere.  No 


material  should,  however,  be  submitted  simultaneously  to  the 
Bulletin  of  the  ABC  and  to  any  other  publication. 

Brief  notes  for  contributors  appear  elsewhere  in  this  Bulletin 
and  further  details  are  available  from  the  Editor  (editor@ 
africanbirdclub.org). 


©2010  Copyright  African  Bird  Club  and  contributors.  Quotations  should  carry  a full  acknowledgement.  No  part  etc  may  be 
reproduced,  copied  or  stored  in  a retrieval  system  without  the  prior  written  permission  of  the  Club  or  authors. 


Contents 

Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 


News  & Comment 


Features 


146 

Club  News 

Compiled  by  Alan  Williams 

159 

148 

Conservation  Fund  News 

151 

Africa  Round-up 

Compiled  by  Ron  Demey,  Guy 

178 

M.  Kirwan  and  Peter  Lack 

188 

158 

Advertising  information 

220 

Photospot:  Observations 
du  Faucon  concolore 

Falco  concolor  dans  les 
environs  d’Antananarivo, 

198 

Madagascar 

Bruno  Boedts 

202 

225 

Photospot:  A breeding 
island  for  Lesser 
Flamingos  Phoeniconaias 
minor  at  Kamfers  Dam, 

207 

Kimberley,  South  Africa 

Mark  D.  Anderson  and  Tania 
A.  Anderson 

210 

239 

Recent  Reports 

Compiled  by  Ron  Demey 

212 

253 

Reviews 

257 

Letter  to  the  Editor 

213 

272 

Notes  for  Contributors 

215 

Photographs 

Mark  Anderson,  Julian  Bayliss,  Peter 
Berglin,  Bruno  Boedts,  Nik  Borrow, 
Merilyn  Browne,  Hugh  Buck,  Artur 
Bujanowicz,  Rod  Cassidy,  Callan 
Cohen,  Frangoise  Dowsett-Lemaire, 
Lincoln  Fishpool,  Dick  Forsman,  Matteo 
Gagliardone,  Brayton  Holt,  Keith 
Larson,  Graham  McCulloch,  Johannes  & 
Sharon  Merz,  Pete  Morris,  Phil  Palmer, 
Richard  F.  Porter,  Carlos  Ribeiro,  Adam 
Riley,  Beneharo  Rodriguez,  Peter  Ryan, 
Volker  Salewski,  Martin  Stervander, 


216 

217 

229 


Kristian  Svensson,  Craig  Symes,  Jonathan 
Timberlake,  Ray  Tipper,  Chris  Townend, 
Albie  Venter,  Tim  Wacher,  Alan 
Williams,  Ian  White,  David  Winter 


Front  cover  plate 

Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor 
by  Mark  D.  Anderson 


Further  ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and 
Mabu  Mountains  (northern  Mozambique),  and  the 
urgent  need  to  conserve  their  forests  Frangoise  Dowsett-Lemaire 

The  sweet  option:  the  importance  of  Aloe  marlothil  for 
opportunistic  avian  nectarivores  Craig  Symes 

Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor 
movements  and  the  potential  connectivity  among 
regional  populations  using  satellite-telemetry  Volker  Salewski, 
Brooks  Childress  and  Martin  Wikelski 

Brief  notes  on  the  birds  of  Mount  Inago, 

northern  Mozambique  Lincoln  D.  C.  Fishpool  and  Julian  Bayliss 

The  Slender-billed  Curlew  Numenius  tenuirostris  in  Africa 

Graeme  Buchanan,  Nicola  Crockford  and  Adam  Gretton 

Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  * Common  Moorhen 
Gallinula  chloropus  on  Tenerife,  Canary  Islands 

Beneharo  Rodriguez,  Juan  Curbelo  and  Nazaret  Carrasco 

Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  in  the  Mandara 
Mountains,  north-east  Nigeria:  a new  subspecies? 

Jacinta  I.  Abalaka,  Ulf  Ottosson,  Talatu  Tende  and  Keith  Larson 

A record  of  brood  parasitism  of  Barratt’s  Warbler  Bradypterus 
barratti  by  African  Emerald  Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx  cupreus 

Michael  S.  L Mills 

First  record  of  Streaky-breasted  Flufftail  Sarothrura  boehmi 
for  Benin  Johannes  Merz  and  Sharon  Merz 

First  records  of  Ruddy  Turnstone  Arenaria  interpres  for  Benin 

Guy  R.  Manners 

First  record  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes  Picathartes  oreas 
for  Central  African  Republic  Rod  Cassidy,  Barry  Watkins  and 
Tamar  Cassidy 

First  record  of  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  for  the 
African  region  Peter  G.  Ryan 

Birding  Rwanda — in  search  of  Red-collared  Babbler 
Kupeornis  rufocinctus,  Albertine  Rift  endemics  and  more 

Callan  Cohen,  Peter  Ryan,  Marcell  Claasen  and  Claver  Ntoyinka 


THE  NATURAL 
HISTORY  MUSEUM 

2 h AUG  2010 

PURCHASED 
TRING  LIBRARY 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -145 


Club  News 


ABC  2010  Thetford  meeting  and 
AGM 

The  Club  held  its  annual  meeting 
and  AGM  on  10  April  2010  at 
the  British  Trust  for  Ornithology’s 
(BTO)  headquarters  in  Thetford, 
Norfolk.  Chairman  Keith  Betton 
welcomed  all  those  who  had  come 
to  the  meeting.  He  thanked  the 
BTO  for  once  again  making  their 
headquarters  available  for  the  venue 
on  what  was  a beautiful  day.  Keith 
welcomed  Kabelo  Senyatso,  Director 
of  BirdLife  Botswana,  to  the  meeting. 
He  drew  attention  to  Martin 
Woodcock’s  new  book,  which  was 
available  at  the  AGM.  He  thanked 
WildSounds  for  their  support  and 
also  thanked  Bev  & Geoff  Randall 
for  their  work  on  the  sales  goods. 

The  programme  of  talks  followed,  on 
interesting  and  varied  subjects. 

House  Crows  in  Africa: 
villain  or  victim ? — Colin  Ryall 
described  the  House  Crow’s  Corvus 
splendens  native  range  in  the  Indian 
subcontinent.  House  Crows  became 
established  and  expanded  in  other 
countries  due  to  deliberate  releases, 


Figure  1.  Speakers  at  the  ABC  annual 
meeting,  Thetford,  April  2010,  with 
from  left  to  right:  John  Caddick, 

Colin  Ryall,  Glyn  Young,  Anthony 
Cizek,  Nigel  Redman  and  John  Gale 
(Alan  Williams) 

Conferenciers  a l’Assemblee  generale 
annuelie  de  l’ABC,  Thetford,  avril 
2010  ; de  gauche  a droite  : John 
Caddick,  Colin  Ryall,  Glyn  Young, 
Anthony  Cizek,  Nigel  Redman  et  John 
Gale  (Alan  Williams) 


ship-assisted  passage  and  overland 
spread.  They  now  occur  through 
much  of  coastal  East  Africa,  and 
even  in  Australia,  Chile  and  the 
Caribbean.  Everywhere  the  species 
is  omnivorous,  klepto-parasitic  and 
a carrion-eater.  Aden,  Zanzibar  and 
Suez  were  early  strongholds  and, 
although  mainly  coastal,  House 
Crows  have  spread  inland  from 
Dar-es-Salaam  in  Tanzania.  They 
reached  Durban  in  1972  but  have 
been  eradicated  from  East  London 
and  Port  Elizabeth.  Two  eradication 
programmes  have  been  successful — 
on  Socotra  and  the  Seychelles,  and 
real  attempts  at  eradication  are  being 
made  in  the  Western  Cape  of  South 
Africa.  He  described  their  adverse 
impacts  on  native  avifauna,  the 
nuisance  they  cause  and  the  damage 
they  inflict  on  crops  and  livestock. 
His  answer  to  his  own  question  was 
that  House  Crows  are  indeed  villains. 
He  suggested  anyone  interested  visit 
www.housecrow.com  or  contact  him 
at  colin.ryall@ntlworld.com. 

ABC  Conservation  Tour  to 
Siena  Leone. — John  Caddick  spoke 
about  the  highlights  of  the  ABC 
Conservation  Tour  to  Sierra  Leone, 
which  took  place  in  December  2009 
and  was  organised  by  Rockjumper. 

It  followed  the  theme  of  previous 
tours  by  giving  members  the 
opportunity  to  visit  some  ol  the  less 
well  known  and  ornithologically 
interesting  parts  of  Africa  while 
simultaneously  generating  income  for 
the  Conservation  Fund.  A full  report 
appeared  in  Bull.  ABC  17:  3—4. 

Bird  conservation  challenges 
in  Zimbabwe. — Anthony  Cizek 
began  by  describing  the  closure 
of  the  Kariba  dam  and  the  species 
rescue  that  ensued  in  the  late  1950s. 

I suspect  that,  like  myself,  many 
older  UK  members  will  recall  this 
from  the  newsreels  of  the  day. 
Although  bird  conservation  was 
seen  as  a priority  at  all  levels  of 


government  during  the  changes 
from  Rhodesia  to  Zimbabwe,  recent 
events  in  the  political  development 
of  the  country  have  resulted  in  the 
population  concentrating  on  survival 
rather  than  wildlife  preservation.  By 
highlighting  the  many  and  varied 
habitats  of  ornithological  interest  in 
Zimbabwe,  Anthony  demonstrated 
the  potential  for  loss  of  much  that 
should  be  preserved.  However,  there 
was  some  optimism,  and  Anthony 
highlighted  the  work  that  is  being 
done  in  many  areas  through  the  . 
Communal  Areas  Management 
Program  for  Indigenous  Resources 
initiative,  which  encourages  local 
peoples’  cultural  instinct  to  conserve 
natural  resources.  They  share  in  the 
income  generated  from  the  wildlife 
parks.  This  endeavours  to  ensure  that 
wildlife  and  rural  communities  can 
co-exist. 

Saving  the  Madagascar 
Pochard. — Glyn  Young  (Durrell 
Wildlife  Conservation  Trust)  gave  a 
detailed  account  of  the  ongoing  work 
to  save  one  of  the  world’s  rarest  birds, 
Madagascar  Pochard  Aythya  innotata. 
The  pochard  was  feared  extinct  by 
the  late  1990s  but  in  2006  a group 
from  the  Peregrine  Fund  observed 
20-30  birds  on  a volcanic  lake  in 
northern  Madagascar  (see  Bull. 

ABC  14:  171—174).  This  location 
provided  the  fringing  marsh  the  birds 
require.  Surveys  in  2008—09  revealed 
no  addition  to  the  population. 

Given  that  the  loss  of  young  birds 
would  quickly  lead  to  the  duck 
becoming  extinct,  the  decision  was 
taken  to  establish  a captive-breeding 
programme.  Glyn  detailed  how  this 
was  done,  which  was  quite  a feat 
given  the  condition  of  the  roads  and 
the  necessity  ol  getting  the  chicks 
to  a protective  environment  swiftly. 
Having  achieved  this,  much  remains 
to  be  done  to  preserve  this  Critically 
Endangered  species,  particularly 
identifying  a good  relocation  site. 


1 46  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Club  News 


Morocco:  land  of  contrasts. — 

Nigel  Redman  showed  us  that  good 
birding  is  available  in  Morocco.  It 
is  easily  accessible  to  Europeans,  has 
Mediterranean  and  Atlantic  coastlines 
as  well  as  deserts  and  mountains. 

With  a list  of  450  species,  200  of 
them  regular  breeders,  there  is  plenty 
of  scope  for  exciting  birding.  There 
are  no  true  endemics,  but  Northern 
Bald  Ibis  Geronticus  eremita,  Houbara 
Bustard  Chlamydotis  undulata , 
Dupont’s  Lark  ChersophiLus  dnponti, 
Thick-billed  Lark  Ramphocoris 
clotbey  and  Dark  Chanting  Goshawk 
Meliarax  metabates  are  enough  to 
tempt  the  well-travelled  African 
birder.  Nigel  took  us  to  some  of  the 
best  sites  such  as  Oued  Massa  near 
Agadir  and  the  Atlas  Mountains. 

The  extreme  south  of  Morocco  is 
less  accessible  than  other  parts  of  the 
country,  but  it  offers  great  potential 
for  birders  in  the  future. 

Bird  illustrating  in 
Madagascar. — John  Gale  gave  a 
fascinating  account  of  the  work  of 
the  bird  artist.  He  took  us  through 
the  process  of  completing  plates  of 
species  from  sketches  in  the  field, 
researching  skins  and  available 
photographs  to  the  final  product. 

The  layout  of  the  plates  is  done 
with  meticulous  precision  and 
many  amendments  are  made  before 
achieving  a satisficatory  result. 

Even  finding  the  bird  can  be  time 
consuming  as  he  took  seven  days 
to  locate  Sunbird  Asity  Neodrepanis 
coruscans , for  his  latest  project,  the 
Handbook  to  the  Birds  of  the  Indian 
Ocean  Islands.  Next  time  you  pick 
up  a field  guide,  spare  a thought 
for  all  the  hard  work  the  artist  has 
put  into  the  illustrations. 

2010  AGM 

ABC  Council  has  decided  not  to 
publish  the  Summary  Accounts 
and  detailed  report  of  the  AGM 


in  Club  News  in  order  to  allocate 
more  space  for  papers.  The 
information  is  available  on  the 
Club  website  www.africanbirdclub. 
org.  A brief  summary  of  the  main 
items  follows. 

Outgoing  Treasurer  John  Caddick 
reported  that  the  Club  had  managed 
to  produce  a surplus  of  income  over 
expenditure  of  UK£5,500  and  had 
made  Conservation  Fund  awards 
of  over  UK£10,000  in  2009.  John 
is  now  standing  down  as  Treasurer 
after  a period  of  seven  years.  He 
will  continue  on  Council  as  Vice- 
Chairman  and  will  be  concentrating 
on  the  Club’s  website  in  the 
future.  Alan  Williams,  currently 
Membership  Officer,  is  taking  over 
as  Treasurer.  Alan  was  also  Treasurer 
in  1998-2002.  Steph  Tyler  has 
completed  her  term  as  Conservation 
Officer.  Many  of  you  will  know 
Steph,  and  her  knowledge  of  African 
ornithology  has  been  put  to  good  use 
in  the  handling  of  applications  for 
Conservation  Fund  grants  in  many 
countries.  In  the  seven  years  she 
has  been  in  situ , the  Club  has  made 
over  UK£62,000  of  grants.  This  in 
itself  is  testimony  to  the  amount  of 
effort  Steph  and  the  other  members 
of  the  Conservation  Committee 
have  put  in.  Chris  Magin  has  taken 
over  as  Conservation  Officer.  Since 
completing  his  Ph.D.  in  Tanzania, 
Chris  has  worked  as  a conservationist 
for  over  20  years,  for  a variety  of 
conservation  organisations  in  many 
different  countries,  principally  in 
Africa.  He  is  currently  International 
Officer  for  Africa  for  the  Royal 
Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds 
(RSPB),  but  previously  worked  for 
BirdLife  International  in  Morocco, 
WWF  in  Niger,  IUCN  in  Djibouti 
and  several  organisations  in  Kenya. 
He  has  advised  on  expedition  / 
research  applications  for  Raleigh 
International,  Rufiford  Small  Grants 


and  for  several  years  managed 
the  RSPB’s  Africa  Small  Grants 
Programme. 

Three  new  Council  members 
were  appointed.  Danae  Sheehan  is 
the  new  Membership  Officer.  Danae 
currently  works  for  the  International 
Research  Department  of  the 
RSPB  at  Sandy  as  a Conservation 
Scientist.  She  regularly  visits 
Africa.  Stephen  Cameron  has  been 
elected  as  Corporate  Sponsorship 
Officer.  Stephen  is  a retired  hospital 
physician,  based  in  North  Yorkshire, 
who  has  visited  15  countries  in  Africa 
on  30  occasions,  and  returns  to  the 
continent  most  years.  He  took  over 
as  Corporate  Sponsorship  Officer  in 
2009  as  a co-opted  Council  member 
and  will  now  continue  in  this  role  as 
a full  Council  member.  Sue  Walsh  is 
the  new  Secretary.  Sue,  who  runs  a 
business  called  WorkLife  Architect, 
which  works  with  people  to  help 
them  achieve  their  goals  in  life,  has 
travelled  all  over  the  world  birding, 
including  to  several  countries  in 
Africa.  She  lives  in  Brighton  and  is 
involved  in  Sussex  birding  as  well  as 
the  African  Bird  Club. 

2011  AGM 

The  201 1 AGM  will  be  held 
on  Saturday  16  April  2011  at 
Swedenborg  House,  20-21 
Bloomsbury  Way,  London  WC1A 
2TH.  This  announcement  constitutes 
official  notification  of  the  AGM  as 
required  by  the  Club’s  constitution. 
Full  details  of  the  AGM  agenda  and 
programme  for  the  day  will  be  posted 
to  all  UK  members  at  least  one 
month  before  the  meeting.  To  save 
postage,  the  programme  will  not  be 
automatically  distributed  to  members 
outside  the  UK.  Any  overseas 
member  wanting  a copy,  either  by 
post  or  e-mail,  can  write  to  the  Club 
Secretary.  Details  will  also  appear  on 
the  Club  website. 


Club  News 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 147 


African  Bird  Club  Conservation  Fund 


This  will  be  my  last  report  as  Conservation  Officer 
for  ABC  after  eight  years  at  the  helm.  My  term 
of  office  on  ABC  Council  ended  at  the  AGM  in 
April  and  Chris  Magin  has  since  taken  over.  I 
have  greatly  enjoyed  being  in  contact  with  both 
budding  and  more  experienced  ornithologists 
throughout  Africa. 

Conservation  Awards 

Expedition  Award:  survey  of  vultures  in 
Sudan 

The  proposal  submitted  by  Ivaylo  Angelov, 
for  a study  of  the  distribution,  population  and 
limiting  factors  for  migrant  Egyptian  Vultures 
Neophron  percnopterus  on  the  Red  Sea  coast  of 
Sudan,  received  strong  support  from  the  ABC 
Conservation  Committee  and  Council.  The 
project  will  be  implemented  jointly  by  the 
Bulgarian  BirdLife  partner  and  the  Sudanese 
Wildlife  Society  (SWS),  the  leading  nature 
conservation  NGO  in  the  country.  Egyptian 
Vulture  was  recently  classified  as  Endangered 
following  a sharp  long-term  population  decline. 
In  the  Balkans  the  species  probably  will  become 
extinct  in  the  next  20-25  years  if  the  trend  is 
not  reversed,  and  it  is  known  that  there  are 
heavy  losses  of  birds  during  migration  and 
winter  in  Africa.  The  main  threats  in  Africa  are 


Egyptian  Vulture  / Vautour  percnoptere  Neophron 
percnopterus  (Dick  Forsman) 


poisoning,  electrocution  and,  in  some  countries, 
probably  shooting.  Sudan  is  the  largest  country 
in  Africa  and  formerly  supported  high  densities 
of  vultures,  but  all  species  including  Egyptian 
Vulture  have  dramatically  declined.  During 
three  brief  visits  to  Port  Sudan  (in  1982-83 
and  2005),  German  ornithologists  recorded  >60 
electrocuted  Egyptian  Vultures  below  a single 
10-km  stretch  of  power  line  along  the  western 
Red  Sea  coast,  which  suggests  that  this  power 
line  alone  could  be  playing  a significant  part  in 
the  species’  decline.  Although  vulture  experts 
working  throughout  Africa  have  pointed  out 
that  research  into  the  conservation  of  all  vulture 
species,  especially  in  the  northern  half  of  the 
continent,  is  an  urgent  priority,  to  date  almost 
nothing  has  been  done.  The  expedition  will 
aim  to  plan  urgent  conservation  measures  for 
Egyptian  Vultures  along  Sudan’s  Red  Sea  coast. 
Among  the  project’s  objectives  are  to  study 
the  threats  to  migrating  vultures  and  to  build 
local  capacity  for  future  conservation  of  the 
species  by  training  Sudanese  ornithologists  in 
this  work.  ABC  thanks  Olle  Holst  of  Avifauna 
for  supporting  this  project. 

Further  work  on  Djibouti  Francolin 

ABC  is  most  grateful  to  Julian  Francis,  who 
has  sponsored  the  award  of  UK£  1,000  to 
Houssein  A.  Rayaleh,  Executive  Secretary  of 
Djibouti  Nature,  to  support  his  field  work 
costs  during  forthcoming  work  on  Djibouti 
Francolin  Francolinus  ochropectus.  This  award 
was  previously  announced  in  Bull.  ABC  17: 
8-9. 

Reconciling  forest  use  and  bird 
conservation  in  south-west  Madagascar 

At  the  February  Council  meeting  an  award  of 
UKT756  to  Charlie  Gardner  was  approved.  The 
objectives  of  his  project  were  to  quantify  the 
impacts  of  forest  use,  e.g.  charcoal  production, 
on  bird  community  composition  and  structure, 
and  on  vegetation  composition  and  structure,  as 
well  as  to  make  recommendations  to  protected 
area  managers  regarding  forest  use  and  bird 
conservation.  An  interim  report  has  already 
been  received.  Aside  from  detailed  bird  surveys, 
interviews  have  been  undertaken  with  local 


148  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


ABC  Conservation  Fund 


^ African  Bird  Club  Conservation  Fund 


villagers  and  a slide  show  is  in  preparation  for  use 
in  local  villages  to  demonstrate  the  importance 
of  bird  conservation. 

Ecology  and  conservation  status  of 
Aberdare  Cisticola  in  Aberdares  National 
Park,  Kenya 

This  project,  which  will  be  undertaken  by 
Philista  Malaki  of  the  National  Museums  of 
Kenya,  Ornithology  Section,  has  been  awarded 
UKi.800.  Aberdare  Cisticola  Cisticola  aberdare 
is  listed  as  globally  Endangered.  The  species 
inhabits  moist  grassland  in  Mau  Narok-Molo 
and  the  Aberdares  in  central  Kenya,  and  is 
threatened  by  habitat  loss  due  to  agricultural 
expansion.  Frequent  fires  in  Aberdare  National 
Park  represent  an  additional  threat.  The  specific 
objectives  of  the  research  are  as  follows.  To 
estimate  the  population  of  Aberdare  Cisticola  in 
the  national  park;  to  determine  the  species’  spatial 
distribution  and  habitat  selection;  to  evaluate  the 
current  extent,  quality  and  rate  of  loss  of  its 
habitat;  to  identify  and  quantify  specific  threats; 
to  explore  local  attitudes  to  its  conservation; 
and  to  identify  probable  stakeholders  in  its 
conservation. 

Reports 

Stripe-breasted  Tit 

Phil  Shaw  and  Douglas  Shell  have  sent  a report 
on  their  work  on  Stripe-breasted  Tit  Parus 


Stripe-breasted  Tit  / Mesange  a ventre  strie  Parus 
fasciiventer  (Kristian  Svensson) 


fasciiventer  at  Ruhija,  Bwindi  Impenetrable 
National  Park,  in  Uganda.  The  award,  made  in 
2009,  has  enabled  a much  fuller  investigation 
of  the  species’  breeding  ecology  and  survival 
than  would  otherwise  have  been  the  case.  The 
data  collected  during  2009,  combined  with 
the  previous  dataset,  will  enable  a much  better 
understanding  of  the  links  between  current 
climate,  leaf  phenology  and  breeding  activity  in 
this  scarce  Albertine  Rift  endemic. 

Sam  Osinubi 

Samuel  Temidayo  Osinubi  received  an 
ABC  award  that  was  kindly  matched  by  our 
President,  Tasso  Leventis.  Sam  attended  a sound 
analysis  workshop  at  the  Cornell  Laboratory  of 
Ornithology,  which  provides  a basic  practical 
understanding  of  spectrographic  analysis  along 
with  an  introduction  to  the  wide  range  of 
techniques  used  in  sound  analysis  and  their 
application  in  biological  research.  Sam’s  doctoral 
research  aims  to  examine  the  influence  of 
habitat  quality  on  several  adaptive  behaviours 
of  bird  species  resident  in  an  Afromontane 
forest  in  Nigeria.  One  of  the  behaviours  studied 
is  vocalisation,  relative  to  microhabitat  and 
individual  fitness.  Bioacoustics  research  is  a 
nascent  area  of  indigenous  ecological  study  in 
Nigeria,  if  not  Africa  as  a whole,  making  Sam’s 
attendance  at  the  workshop  doubly  important. 
The  opportunity  arose  for  him  to  undertake  a 
‘crash  course  in  sound  data  collection,  working 
with  Macaulay  Library  staff.  His  analyses 
focused  on  recordings  of  Yellow-breasted 
Boubou  Laniarius  atroflavus  made  during  the 
first  field  season  of  this  research.  The  use  of 
personal  recordings  for  sound  analyses  during 
the  workshop  permitted  a better  understanding 
and  appreciation  relative  to  each  participant’s 
research  needs. 

North  Nandi  Forest 

Simon  Musila,  Alex  Syingi  and  Jackson  Sajita 
have  reported  on  surveys  undertaken  in  the 
North  Nandi  (Kenya)  Important  Bird  Area.  In 
the  eastern  part  of  the  forest  they  found  108 
species,  of  which  33  were  forest  specialists. 
Unfortunately  no  globally  threatened  Chapin’s 
Flycatchers  Muscicapa  lendu  were  found,  but 


ABC  Conservation  Fund 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -149 


^ African  Bird  Club  Conservation  Fund 


the  team  did  observe  five  Turner’s  Eremomelas 
Eremomela  turneri.  They  also  found  that  relatively 
little  habitat  degradation  had  occurred  in  the 
decade  since  the  previous  survey. 

Steph  Tyler,  on  behalf  of  the 
Conservation  Committee 

The  ABC  website  (www.africanbirdclub.org/ 
club/consfund_projects.html)  shows  the  full  list 
of  conservation  projects  and  awards  made  since 
the  inception  of  the  programme  ten  years  ago. 
A remarkable  total  in  excess  of  UK£90,000  has 
been  donated  during  this  period.  You  can  also 
view  many  of  the  final  project  reports  on  this 
page. 


Turner’s  Eremomela  / Eremomele  de  Turner  Eremomela 
turneri  (Pete  Morris) 


Africa  is  just  one 
of  the  Continents 
we  offer 

For  the  top 
destinations 
contact 

Birdfmders 

01258  839066 
info@birdfinders.co.uk 
www.birdfinders.co.uk 

Stop  wishing,  start  packing! 


150 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


ABC  Conservation  Fund 


General 

One  confirmed  extinction  but 
some  successes 

BirdLife  International  has 
announced,  in  the  2010  IUCN  Red 
List  update  for  birds,  the  extinction 
of  Alaotra  Grebe  Tachybaptus 
rufolavatus,  although  this  might 
come  as  little  surprise  to  readers 
of  this  Bulletin  ( cf  Bull.  ABCl\ 
115-117).  Restricted  to  a tiny  area 
of  eastern  Madagascar,  the  grebe 
declined  rapidly  after  carnivorous 
fish  were  introduced  to  the  lakes  in 
which  it  lived.  This,  along  with  the 
use  of  nylon  gill  nets  by  fisherman 
that  caught  and  drowned  birds,  has 
driven  this  species  into  the  abyss. 

“No  hope  now  remains  for  this 
species.  It  is  another  example  of  how 
human  actions  can  have  unforeseen 
consequences”,  said  Dr  Leon 
Bennun,  BirdLife  International’s 
Director  of  Science,  Policy  and 
Information.  However,  one  ‘plus’ 
is  that  Azores  Bullfinch  Pyrrhula 
murina  has  been  downlisted  from 
Critically  Endangered  to  Endangered 


Azores  Bullfinch  / Bouvreuil  des  Aqores 
Pyrrhula  murina  (Carlos  Ribeiro) 


as  a result  of  conservation  work  to 
restore  natural  vegetation  on  its 
island.  The  Portuguese  and  UK 
BirdLife  partners  have  worked 
together  with  others  to  transform  the 
fortunes  of  this  species  in  what  is  a 
model  for  other  projects.  “This  is  a 
clear  example  of  conservation  action 
succeeding  in  turning  the  tide  for  a 
highly  threatened  species”,  said  Andy 
Symes,  BirdLife’s  Global  Species 
Programme  Officer.  “Where  there  is 
commitment  and  financing  we  can 
save  species.  We  have  the  knowledge 
and  will,  but  there  needs  to  be  better 
funding  globally  to  address  the  loss 
of  species.  ” 

Source:  www.birdlife.org 

Migrants  use  an  intermittent 
strategy  in  spring  too 

Recent  evidence  from  radar  studies 
of  Palearctic  migrants  crossing 
the  Sahara  Desert  in  autumn 
suggests  that  most  passerines  use  an 
‘intermittent  strategy’.  In  autumn 
migrants  with  quite  high  fuel  loads 
have  been  found  to  rest  in  the  desert 
by  day  and  to  fly  during  the  night, 
whereas  lean  individuals  are  often 
found  to  rest  in  oases  for  several 
days  to  refuel.  Now  a spring  study 
by  Volker  Salewski  and  others  of 
Vogelwarte  Radolfzell  working  in 
the  plain  desert  of  Mauritania  have 
found  that  most  birds  captured 
had  fat  loads  sufficient  to  reach 
the  northern  edge  of  the  desert 
with  a similar  intermittent  strategy. 
Furthermore,  birds  in  a nearby  oasis 
did  not  carry  consistently  lower  fuel 
loads  than  those  caught  in  the  desert 
itself.  In  other  words,  birds  found  on 
the  ground  in  spring  in  the  Sahara 
do  not  represent  falls,  but  are  birds 
simply  resting  and  quite  capable  of 
completing  their  journeys. 

Source:  J.  Ornithol.  151:  371— 378 


Biodiversity  in  Africa’s  protected 
areas  declining  fast 

BirdLife  International  is  working 
in  22  countries  in  Africa  and  in 
over  1,200  IBAs.  While  all  of  these 
countries  have  increased  their  efforts 
to  conserve  biodiversity,  much  more 
remains  to  be  done.  A monitoring 
project  of  protected  areas  (covering 
1 17  sites  in  seven  countries) 
implemented  by  BirdLife  and  the 
Royal  Society  of  the  Protection  of 
Birds  (BirdLife  in  the  UK)  clearly 
shows  that  the  state  of  biodiversity 
is  declining.  Sites  identified  as  being 
in  a poor  state  increased  from  43% 
in  2001,  to  57%  in  2008.  At  the 
same  time  there  has  been  a general 
increase  of  threats  facing  protected 
areas.  However,  “The  results  also 
show  that  if  proper  management 
responses  are  put  in  place  it  is 
possible  to  improve  the  state  of 
biodiversity  and  reduce  pressures”, 
said  Achilles  Byaruhanga  (Executive 
Director  of  Nature  Uganda).  “This 
was  well  demonstrated  through  the 
sites  monitored  in  Botswana,  Central 
Kalahari  Game  reserve,  Okavango 
Delta  and  Mannyelanong,  where 
comprehensive  and  effective  uses  of 
existing  management  plans  have  been 
instituted”.  Nonetheless,  it  is  clear 
that  urgent  action  will  be  needed 
to  halt  biodiversity  loss  and  prevent 
extinctions,  while  simultaneously 
contributing  to  human  well  being 
and  poverty  reduction. 

Source:  BirdLife  International  press 
release,  May  2010 

Update  on  the  Amur  Falcons  . . . 

In  the  last  Bulletin  {Bull.  ABC  17: 

1 1—12)  we  reported  on  the  first 
stage  of  a project  to  develop  a better 
understanding  of  the  incredible 
migration  of  the  Amur  Falcon  Falco 
amurensis,  which  breeds  in  north- 
east Asia  and  principally  winters 
in  southern  Africa.  Over  the  last 
decade,  satellite  telemetry  has  been 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -151 


Amur  Falcon  / Faucon  de  l’Amour 
Falco  amurensis  (Adam  Riley) 


successfully  used  to  understand  the 
migrations  of  many  Eurasian  raptors 
that  winter  in  Africa,  and  now  this 
technique  is  being  used  with  Amur 
Falcons.  By  9 May  2010,  the  first 
bird  had  reached  eastern  China, 
having  covered  c.  13,750  km  in  seven 
weeks,  sometimes  in  ‘leaps’  of  >1,000 
km  in  a single  day.  A second  bird 
reached  the  same  area  three  days 
later.  Remarkably,  one  male  was  still 
in  Somalia,  near  Mogadishu,  at  the 
same  time. 

Source:  Bernd  Meyburg  in  litt.  to 
African  Birding  May  2010 

. . . and  stable  isotopes  also 
assist 

Stable  isotopes  have  been  measured 
in  adult  and  juvenile  Amur  Falcon 
Falco  amurensis  feathers  in  a further 
bid  to  understand  the  migratory 
connectivity  of  this  species.  The 
data  suggest  that  juvenile  Amur 
Falcons  in  South  Africa  originate 
from  across  their  entire  Palearctic 
range,  but  roost  site  fidelity  is  low 
in  the  overwintering  range,  where 
the  birds  move  widely,  feeding  on 
a broad  range  of  arthropods  that 
are  seasonally  abundant.  Total 
population  estimates  for  South  Africa 
are  significantly  lower  than  global 
estimates  meaning  that  a significant 
proportion  of  the  population  may 
not  winter  in  South  Africa  or  that 
the  global  population  is  substantially 
lower  than  believed.  While  roosts 
can  number  hundreds  to  thousands 
and  are  often  in  large  exotic  trees, 
habitat  changes  particularly  due  to 
agriculture,  forestation  and  strip 


mining,  may  affect  the  species’ 
numbers  in  the  winter  quarters. 

Source:  Bird  Conserv.  Intern. 
doi:10. 1017/S09592709 10000237 

North  Africa 

First  record  of  Lesser  Flamingo 
for  Algeria 

On  31  December  2009,  a Lesser 
Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  was 
photographed  among  a group  of  900 
Greater  Flamingos  Phoenicopterus 
roseus  at  Lake  Fetzara,  in  north-east 
Algeria.  This  appears  to  be  the  first 
record  of  this  species  for  the  country. 
There  are  several  previous  records 
from  Morocco,  but  none  from 
Tunisia. 

Source:  Alauda  78,  p.  26 

Breeding  of  Greater  Flamingo  in 
Algeria,  2003-09 

Previously  considered  to  be  only 
a winter  visitor  to  the  country, 
since  2003  Greater  Flamingos 
Phoenicopterus  roseus  have  bred 
regularly  at  three  different  sites 
within  the  Sebkha  Ezzemoul,  on  the 
Hauts  Plateaux,  in  north-east  Algeria. 
A total  of  four  of  those  breeding 
attempts  have  proven  successful, 
with  a total  of  >15,000  chicks 
fledging,  but  other  efforts  have  been 
prejudiced  by  human  disturbance 
and  to  some  extent  drought. 

Source:  Alauda  78,  pp.  15—25 

On  the  reported  Humblot’s  Fleron 
in  Tunisia 

The  report  of  a ‘Humblot’s 
Heron’  Ardea  humbloti,  which  was 
photographed  at  Oued  Gouifla, 
southern  Tunisia,  on  17  October 
2008  (see  Bull.  ABC  17:  12), 
was  examined  by  Frederic  Jiguet, 
who,  after  careful  study  of  the 
photographs,  concludes  that  the  bird 
in  question  was  in  fact  a Grey  Heron 
A.  cinerea  with  soiled  or  melanistic 
plumage.  Humblot’s  Heron  is  a rare 
endemic  to  the  Malagasy  region 
and  its  occurrence  in  Tunisia  was 
extremely  unlikely. 

Source:  Alauda  78,  p.  40 


Gull-billed  Tern  / Sterne  hansel 
Sterna  nilotica  (Peter  Berglin) 

Data  on  colonies  of  three  tern 
species  at  Sfax,  Tunisia,  2004-06 

In  a recent  paper,  M.  A.  Chokri  and 
co-workers  present  data  on  three 
tern  species  breeding  in  numbers 
of  both  national  and  international 
importance  at  the  1,600-ha  salt 
works  near  Sfax,  in  central-east 
Tunisia.  In  the  three  study  years, 
2004-06,  Gull-billed  Tern  Sterna 
nilotica  numbered  144-249  pairs, 
Common  Tern  S.  hirundo  321—625 
pairs  and  Little  Tern  S.  albifrons 
194-272  pairs.  Egg  laying  started 
from  late  April  to  late  May  in  Gull- 
billed Tern  (clutch  size  1-3),  and  in 
the  third  to  fourth  week  of  April  in 
Common  and  Little  Terns  (clutch 
size  1-4).  The  number  of  fledged 
juveniles  per  pair  was  highly  variable: 
0.0-0. 8 for  Gull-billed  Tern,  0-2 
for  Common  Tern  and  0.0-1. 8 for 
Little  Tern.  This  low  reproductive 
success  is  thought  to  be  mainly  due 
to  terrestrial  predation,  especially  by 
stray  dogs,  and  disturbance. 

Source:  Alauda  78,  pp.  51-60 

African  Reed  Warbler  discovered 
in  Libya 

African  Reed  Warbler  Acrocephalus 
baeticatus,  previously  known  only 
from  sub-Saharan  Africa,  was 
discovered  breeding  in  Benghazi, 
Libya,  in  May  2008.  Several 
individuals  were  trapped  and 
subsequent  DNA  analysis  confirmed 
their  identification.  Further  searches 
produced  another  record  of  breeding 
African  Reed  Warblers  in  the  Libyan 
desert,  some  930  km  from  the 
nearest  isolated  breeding  area  of  A. 
b.  cinnamomeus  in  north-east  Niger. 
Surprisingly,  reed  warblers  trapped 


152  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Africa  Round-up 


in  eastern  Libya  and  western  Egypt 
proved  to  be  close  to  ‘Mangrove  Reed 
Warbler’  A.  scirpaceus  avicenniae , 
known  from  southern  Red  Sea  coasts. 
Eurasian  Reed  Warblers  A.  scirpaceus, 
presumably  on  passage,  were  also 
caught  and  observed.  The  situation 
of  reed  warblers  in  North  Africa  is 
therefore  complex.  It  was  previously 
assumed  that  reed  warblers  occurring 
in  reedbeds  from  Morocco  to  Libya 
were  A.  scirpaceus.  The  present 
records  of  African  Reed  Warbler  in 
Libya  now  beg  the  question  whether 
this  taxon  has  been  overlooked  in  the 
other  Maghreb  countries.  Further 
studies  are  clearly  needed  to  elucidate 
the  status  and  distribution  of  all  of 
the  taxa  involved. 

Sources:  Limicola  23,  pp.  202-232  & 
Birding  World  23,  pp.  218-219 

Egyptian  records 

A recent  paper  by  Jean-Philippe 
Siblet  reports  records  of  30  species 
in  Egypt,  based  on  two  visits  to  the 
country,  in  July  / August  2008  and 
March  2009.  Many  of  the  records 
pertain  to  the  distribution  of  herons, 
among  them  a total  of  six  individuals 
at  three  sites  (and  on  two  separate 
dates)  along  the  River  Nile  of  a 
species  not  previously  recorded  in  the 
country,  Intermediate  Egret  Egretta 
intermedia.  As  this  species  is  easily 
misidentified,  it  seems  remarkable 
that  the  author  makes  no  effort  to 
validate  or  document  his  sightings 
(and  that  the  editors  did  not  insist  on 
this),  by  including  a description  of 
the  birds  involved. 

Source:  Alauda  78,  pp.  69-73 

Reintroduction  of  Sacred  Ibis  in 
Egypt  planned 

Sacred  Ibis  Threskiornis  aethiopicus, 
which  was  abundant  during  the 
dynastic  period  of  ancient  Egypt, 
became  extinct  in  the  country  in  the 
19th  century.  Nature  Conservation 
Egypt  (BirdLife  in  Egypt)  and 
the  Ligue  pour  la  Protection  des 
Oiseaux  (BirdLife  in  France)  are 
now  planning  to  reintroduce  the 
species.  There  is  a sizeable  population 
breeding  wild  in  France,  established 
over  recent  decades  by  escapees 
from  zoos.  The  plan  is  to  transfer 
some  of  these  birds  to  Egypt  in  a 


Sacred  Ibis  / Ibis  sacre  Threskiornis 
aethiopicus  (Ian  White) 


controlled  experiment  and  see  if  they 
adapt  to  suitable  habitat.  A steering 
committee  composed  of  scientists 
and  veterinarians  is  studying  all 
aspects  of  the  proposal. 

Source:  BirdLife  Africa  Newsletter 

12(1),  p.  11 

Three-banded  Plover  breeding  in 
Egypt 

Following  the  first  record  in  1993, 
there  has  been  a regular  series  of 
sightings  of  Three-banded  Plover 
Charadrius  tricollaris  in  the  vicinity 
of  Aswan,  in  the  far  south  of  Egypt, 
since  early  2006.  These  culminated 
in  the  confirmation,  in  April  2009, 
that  the  species  was  breeding  there, 
providing  the  first  evidence  of  nesting 
in  the  Western  Palearctic. 

Source:  Dutch  Birding  32, 

pp.  126-128 

African  Palm  Swift  in  North  Africa 

Pierre-Andre  Crochet  and  Marcel 
Haas  have  recently  re-evaluated 
the  status  of  African  Palm  Swift 
Cypsiurus  parvus  in  the  Western 
Palearctic,  from  where  there  are 
records  in  Egypt  and  Mauritania. 

The  authors  conclude  that  neither 
of  the  mentions  in  the  literature 
for  the  first-named  country  can  be 
accepted  for  varying  reasons  (one 
actually  pertains  to  modern-day 
Sudan),  but  (apparently  reluctantly) 
accept  that  the  species’  presence  on 
the  Western  Palearctic  list  can  be 
maintained  on  the  basis  of  a single 
sighting  from  northern  Mauritania, 
albeit  lacking  documentation.  It 
seems  that  enterprising  birders  in  this 
part  of  Africa  should  be  watchful  for 


the  opportunity  to  make  the  species’ 
presence  on  this  list  more  indelible. 

Source:  Dutch  Birding  32,  pp. 

131-132 

Identification  of  Atlas  Flycatcher 

A well-illustrated  article  published  in 
a recent  issue  of  Dutch  Birding  deals 
with  the  summer  identification  of 
Atlas  Flycatcher  Ficedula  ( hypoleuca ) 
speculigera,  which  has  recently 
been  recommended  to  constitute  a 
species  apart  from  Pied  Flycatcher 
F.  hypoleuca.  The  paper  attempts 
to  consolidate  the  features  (and 
variation)  useful  for  separating  adult 
males,  in  particular,  but  also  adult 
females,  especially  with  respect  to  the 
very  similar  F.  h.  iberiae.  The  latter 
taxon  breeds  in  Iberia,  but  also  passes 
through  North  Africa  on  migration. 

Source:  Dutch  Birding  32,  pp. 

155-162 

West  & Central  Africa 

Bird  list  of  Gola  Forest,  Sierra 
Leone,  updated 

Recent  surveys  have  updated  the  total 
number  of  bird  species  recorded  in 
Gola  Forest  and  on  neighbouring 
Tiwai  Island,  Sierra  Leone,  to  327,  of 
which  313  have  been  found  in  Gola 
and  176  on  Tiwai.  These  have  been 
documented  in  a paper  by  Erik  Klop, 
Jeremy  Lindsell  and  Alhaji  Siaka.  All 
species  of  global  concern  previously 
found  in  Gola  were  encountered, 
including  significant  numbers  of 
White-breasted  Guineafowl  Agelastes 
meleagrides  and  White-necked 
Picathartes  Picathartes  gymnocephalus, 
as  well  as  small  numbers  of  Rufous 
Fishing  Owl  Scotopelia  ussheri , 
Western  Wattled  Cuckooshrike 
Lobotos  lobatus,  Nimba  Flycatcher 
Melaenornis  annamarulae  and  Gola 
Malimbe  Malimbus  ballmanni. 

Source:  Malimbus  32,  pp.  33—58 

. . . and  avifauna  of  Bui  National 
Park,  Ghana,  documented 

Bui  National  Park,  in  western  Ghana 
at  the  border  with  Cote  d’Ivoire, 
covers  c.  1,821  km:  and  is  crossed 
by  the  Black  Volta  River.  In  2008, 
work  started  on  a hydroelectric 
power  station  and  dam  at  Bui  Gorge 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -153 


immediately  south  of  the  park. 

All  land  below  r.  1 80  m eventually 
will  be  flooded,  including  the 
southern  two-thirds  of  the  riparian 
forest,  forested  islands  and  adjacent 
woodland.  A unique  community,  at 
the  northern  limit  of  the  Guineo- 
Congolian/Sudanian  transition  zone 
will  be  destroyed.  Bob  Dowsett  and 
Fran5oise  Dowsett-Lemaire  spent 
nearly  ten  days  in  Bui,  in  March 
2005,  and  recorded  227  species, 
among  them  several  that  are  poorly 
known  in  Ghana,  e.g.  White-backed 
Night  Heron  Gorsachius  leuconotus, 
Pel’s  Fishing  Owl  Scotopelia  peli, 
African  Barred  Owlet  Glaucidium 
capense,  Dorst’s  Cisticola  Cisticola 
guinea , Puvel’s  Illadopsis  Illadopsis 
puveli  and  Yellow-billed  Oxpecker 
Buphagus  africanus.  Although  the 
list  cannot  be  considered  complete, 
the  Dowsetts  place  it  on  record  in 
view  of  the  forthcoming  habitat 
destruction. 

Source:  Malimbus  32,  pp.  1-21 

Large  shipment  of  African  Grey 
Parrots  seized 

More  than  1,000  illegally  trapped 
African  Grey  Parrots  Psittacus 
erithacus  en  route  to  the  Middle 
East  were  confiscated  at  Douala 
airport  in  early  February  2010. 

This  is  the  largest  group  ever  seized 
in  Cameroon  and  the  third  such 
confiscation  of  the  species  in  the 
country  since  December  2007. 

Some  300  birds  were  seized  in 
November  2009  alone.  The  parrots 
were  taken  to  the  Limbe  Wildlife 
Centre,  where  47  were  found  to  be 
already  dead,  with  another  30  dying 
of  thirst  and  stress  the  following 
day.  Limbe  Wildlife  Centre  and  the 
Last  Great  Ape  Organization,  two 
independent  African  wildlife  rescue 
groups,  are  working  with  government 
officials  to  co-ordinate  the  seizures 
and  subsequent  care  of  the  birds 
in  an  attempt  to  reduce  the  trade 
in  African  Grey  Parrot,  which  is 
classified  as  Near  Threatened. 

Source:  www.ivildlifeextra.com 

Mount  Cameroon  declared  a 
National  Park 

In  response  to  the  severe  threats 
posed  by  the  growing  human 


population,  in  December  2009  the 
Cameroon  government  decreed  that 
Mt.  Cameroon  and  the  surrounding 
area  would  be  designated  a national 
park.  The  new  park  is  58,178  ha 
in  extent  and  is  an  Important  Bird 
Area,  with  some  370  bird  species 
recorded  to  date,  including  most  of 
Cameroon’s  montane  endemics.  Two 
of  the  latter  are  known  only  from 
Mt.  Cameroon:  Mount  Cameroon 
Francolin  Francolinus  camerunensis 
(Endangered)  and  Mount  Cameroon 
Speirops  Speirops  melanocephalus 
(Vulnerable).  The  site  is  also  the 
only  known  Cameroon  locality  for 
Mountain  Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne 
fuliginosa.  It  is  hoped  that  the  new 
national  park  status  will  both  protect 
the  unique  ecosystem  and  bring 
economic  benefits  to  the  human 
inhabitants. 

Source:  wwf.panda.org 

Entire  Lake  Chad  finally 
designated  a Ramsar  site 

Following  Niger,  Chad  and  Nigeria, 
Cameroon  has  designated  its  12,500- 
ha  of  Lake  Chad  as  a Ramsar  site, 
effective  on  World  Wetlands  Day,  2 
February  2010,  thus  completing  the 
Ramsar  coverage  of  Africa’s  fourth 
largest  lake.  This  will  make  the  lake 
the  largest  of  the  formally  recognised 
transboundary  wetlands  in  the  world, 
and  only  the  second  in  Africa.  Lake 
Chad  is  known  to  frequently  support 
over  200,000  birds,  as  well  as  various 
threatened  fauna  and  flora.  The 
vast  populations  of  migrant  birds 
are  sustained  in  part  by  midges, 
the  aquatic  larval  stage  of  which 
(together  with  other  zooplankton 
and  phytoplankton)  are  at  the  base 
of  the  food  chain  of  the  abundant 
fish  population.  Unfortunately, 
the  area  is  threatened  by  climate 
change,  desertification  and  poor 
resource  management. 

Source:  www.ramsar.org 

Atlantic  Ocean  Islands 
New  journal 

Zoologia  Caboverdiana  is  a new 
journal  established  by  the  Sociedade 
Caboverdiana  de  Zoologia,  which 
body  has  set  itself  the  goal  of 


promoting  all  manner  of  zoological 
research  within  the  Cape  Verde 
archipelago.  The  editor  of  the 
journal  is  Kees  Hazevoet,  and 
the  first  issue  contained  a major 
paper  on  birds,  the  sixth  update  to 
Hazevoet’s  Cape  Verde  checklist. 
Twenty-five  new  species  for  the 
archipelago  are  reported  therein, 
among  them  vagrants  from  North 
America  (e.g.  Baird’s  Sandpiper 
Calidris  bairdii ),  Europe  (Eurasian 
Wigeon  Anas  penelope),  Africa 
(African  Crake  Crex  egregia ) and 
the  South  Atlantic  (Trindade  Petrel 
Pterodroma  arminjoniana ).  The 
current  situation  of  some  endemic 
taxa  is  also  discussed,  some  of  which 
are  Critically  Endangered  (e.g. 

Cape  Verde  Purple  Heron  Ardea 
( purpurea ) bournei:  10—20  pairs), 
while  others  are  now  known  to  be 
more  widespread  than  previously 
thought  (e.g.  Cape  Verde  Warbler 
Acrocephalus  brevirostris,  recently 
discovered  on  Fogo,  with  129 
territories  counted  there  in  2006). 
Submissions  can  be  prepared  in 
English  (with  a Portuguese  summary) 
or  Portuguese  (with  an  English 
summary).  Zoologia  Caboverdiana 
will  be  published  biannually,  with 
issues  in  spring  and  autumn.  For 
further  information,  contact  the 
Editor  (cjhazevoet@gmail.com). 

Sources:  C.  J.  Hazevoet  in  litt.  2010; 

Zoologia  Caboverdiana  1,  pp.  3—44 

The  origin  and  relatives  of  the 
Canaries  endemic  pigeons 

A multi-locus  molecular  study  has 
recently  revealed  the  closest  relatives 
of  the  two  endemic  pigeons  found 
in  the  Canary  Islands.  Dark-tailed 
Laurel  (Bolle’s)  Pigeon  Columba 
bollii  is  apparently  most  closely 
related  to  the  widespread  Common 
Wood  Pigeon  C.  palumbus  of 
Eurasia,  and  its  lineage  is  speculated 
to  be  a relatively  recent  arrival  in  the 
islands,  5 MYA.  In  contrast,  Laurel 
Pigeon  C.  junoniae  was  found  to 
occupy  a position  basal  to  the  Old 
World  genus  Columba , but  of  those 
species  sampled  is  perhaps  most 
closely  related  to  Ashy  Wood  Pigeon 
C.  pulcbrichollis  of  the  Oriental 
region,  and  African  Olive  Pigeon 
C.  arquatrix.  Its  lineage  in  the 


1 54  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Africa  Round-up 


archipelago  dates  back  much  further, 
some  20  MYA. 

Source:  J.  Ornithol.  150,  pp.  357-367 

Recolonisation  of  Ascension 
Island  by  seabirds  after 
eradication  of  feral  cats 

The  introduction  of  cats  on 
Ascension  Island  in  1815  caused  the 
extinction  of  the  once-huge  seabird 
colonies  from  the  main  island,  with 
relict  populations  of  most  species 
persisting  only  at  locations  that 
were  inaccessible  to  cats.  During  an 
eradication  programme,  implemented 
in  three  phases  between  February 
2002  and  January  2006  and  costing 
c.UK£650,000,  all  feral  cats — 79 
in  total — were  killed.  Five  seabird 
species  have  now  recolonised  the 
97-km2  main  island:  White-tailed 
Tropicbird  Phaethon  lepturus  (25 
pairs  in  cat-accessible  sites  in  2007), 
Red-billed  Tropicbird  P.  aethereus 
(eight  pairs),  Masked  Booby  Sula 
dactylatra  (152  pairs),  Brown 
Booby  S.  leucogaster  (29  pairs)  and 
Brown  Noddy  Anous  stolidus  (79 
pairs).  The  numbers  of  each  have 


Masked  Booby  / Fou  masque  Sula 
dactylatra  (Peter  Berglin) 


Brown  Booby  / Fou  brun  Sula 
leucogaster  (Phil  Palmer,  www. 
birdholidays.co.uk) 


increased  through  time,  although 
breeding  success  has  been  relatively 
low  and  growth  of  the  new  colonies 
is  likely  to  be  slow.  The  roles  of 
food  availability,  inexperience  of 
parent  birds  and  Black  Rat  Rattus 
rattus  predation  in  causing  this  low 
reproductive  output  need  to  be 
investigated. 

Source:  Oryx  44,  pp.  20-29 

Gough’s  seabirds  severely 
threatened  by  mice 

The  devastating  effect  of  predatory 
House  Mice  Mus  muscidus  on  Gough 
Island  has  been  well  publicised. 

Mice  kill  large  numbers  of  Tristan 
Albatross  Diomedea  ( exulans ) 
dabbenena  and  Atlantic  Petrel 
Pterodroma  incerta  chicks,  causing 
population  declines  in  these  near- 
endemic breeders.  Both  species  breed 
in  the  southern  winter,  when  the 
mice  have  few  other  food  sources. 
Impacts  on  other,  summer-breeding 
seabirds  are  still  poorly  known. 
However,  anecdotal  observations 
by  Peter  Ryan,  who  first  visited 
the  island  in  the  1980s,  suggest 
that  the  mice  have  caused  dramatic 
decreases  in  the  populations  of  a 
wide  range  of  seabirds.  Entries  in 
Peter’s  notebooks  mention,  for  a 
single  misty  night  on  24  October 
1984,  thousands  of  Kerguelen  Petrels 
Afrodroma  brevirostris,  hundreds  of 
Little  Shearwaters  Puffinus  assimilis 
and  Grey-backed  Storm  Petrels 
Garrodia  nereis , and  thousands  of 
individuals  of  five  other  seabirds. 

Over  many  evenings  of  spotlighting 
in  September-October  2009,  he 
didn’t  see  a single  Kerguelen  Petrel, 
just  one  Little  Shearwater  and  two 
Grey-backed  Storm  Petrels. 

Source:  Africa — Birds  & Birding 
15(2),  p.  13 


East  Africa 

Action  needed  for  the  Liben 
(Sidamo)  Lark 

Urgent  conservation  action  is  now 
needed  to  save  the  Liben  (Sidamo) 
Lark  Heteromirafra  sidamoensis. 

This  globally  threatened  species  is 
known  only  from  the  Liben  Plain  in 
southern  Ethiopia  where  its  grassland 


Liben  (Sidamo)  Lark  / Alouette 
d’Erard  Heteromirafra  sidamoensis 
(Artur  Bujanowicz) 


habitat  is  rapidly  deteriorating.  The 
species  prefers  areas  with  above 
average  grass  cover  and  the  reduction 
in  area  of  these  parts  in  particular 
has  led  to  a 40%  reduction  in  the 
bird’s  numbers  in  2007-09.  The 
deterioration  has  been  most  severe 
in  areas  where  the  species  was  more 
widespread  during  the  2007  survey. 
The  most  likely  explanation  is 
overgrazing  rather  than  drought.  Paul 
Donald  and  others  from  BirdLife 
suggest  that  cattle  should  be  excluded 
from  the  main  area  for  the  bird  as 
soon  as  possible  and  that  the  area 
may  require  ploughing  to  reduce  soil 
compaction.  Longer  term,  removal  of 
encroaching  scrub,  reducing  grazing 
and  developing  sustainable  rangeland 
management  are  other  priorities. 

It  should  be  added  that  all  these 
measures  have  the  full  and  active 
support  of  local  pastoralists,  so  there 
is  some  hope. 

Source:  Bird  Conserv.  Intern.  20,  pp. 

1-12 

Karamoja  Apalis  on  the  march 

Karamoja  Apalis  Apalis  karamojae 
(Vulnerable)  is  confined  to  north- 
east Uganda,  north-central  Tanzania 
and  southern  Kenya.  In  Tanzania, 
it  was  originally  known  solely  from 
the  Wembere  Steppe,  but  since 
1993  (perhaps  even  1983)  has 
extended  its  range  into  the  Serengeti, 
C.140  km  to  the  north,  and  it  had 
reached  southern  Kenya  by  2004. 
This  change  seems  to  be  broadly 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -155 


Karamoja  Apalis  / Apalis  du  Karamoja 
Apalis  karamojae  (Albie  Venter) 


correlated  to  a cyclical  change  in  the 
density  of  its  main  habitat,  Acacia 
drepanolobium  woodland,  which 
was  low  in  the  1970s,  high  during 
the  1980s  and  1990s,  and  declined 
during  the  early  years  of  the  new 
millennium.  Both  the  apalis  and  its 
habitat  appears  to  respond  to  changes 
in  grazing  pressure,  as  increasing 
Wildebeest  Connochaetes  taurinus 
numbers  have  reduced  the  volume 
of  combustible  material  present,  and 
hence  the  frequency  of  damaging  ‘hot 
burns’.  At  present  the  bird’s  range 
seems  to  be  in  decline,  following  a 
recent  reduction  in  the  density  of 
A.  drepanolobium  in  the  northern 
Serengeti. 

Source:  Afr.  J.  Ecol.  doi: 
10.111 1/j.  1365-2028.2009. 01 1 74.x 

Indian  Ocean  Islands 

Amsterdam  Albatross  is  in  trouble 

As  if  we  did  not  know  already! 
Longline  fishing  and  climate  change 
are  affecting  the  viability  of  the 
Amsterdam  Albatross  Diomedea 
amsterdamensis.  As  a breeder,  the 
species  is  restricted  to  the  upland 
plateau  of  Amsterdam  Island  in 
the  southern  Indian  Ocean,  and  its 
population  was  just  nine  pairs  in 
1983.  Philippe  Rivalan  and  others 
have  been  modelling  what  might 
happen  to  this  Critically  Endangered 
population.  Results  indicate  that 
climate  affects  the  species  in  both  its 
breeding  and  wintering  grounds,  but 


that  these  to  some  degree  compensate 
for  the  impact  of  additive  bycatch 
mortality  from  longline  fishing. 
However,  the  models  also  show  that 
any  compensation  would  be  null 
if  more  than  six  individuals  were 
caught  on  longlines  each  year,  and 
therefore  if  such  fishing  is  resumed 
in  the  areas  used  by  the  species  for 
feeding  at  any  season  this  albatross 
would  be  in  even  graver  danger. 

Source:  Ibis  152,  pp.  6-17 

Southern  Africa 

South  African  vultures  threatened 
by  World  Cup 

It  may  sound  too  absurd  for  words, 
but  football  really  can  threaten  the 
survival  of  vultures.  The  2010  World 
Cup  Football  matches  in  South 
Africa  are  expected  to  increase  the 
use  of  vulture  brains  in  ‘muti’,  i.e. 
traditional  medicine,  by  gamblers, 
to  help  them  predict  match  results. 
Vultures’  acute  vision  and  ability 
to  find  prey  over  long  distances  has 
led  to  the  belief  that  they  possess 
clairvoyant  powers.  Gamblers 
therefore  smoke  their  dried  brains  in 
a cigarette  in  the  hope  that  this  will 
bring  them  a vision  of  the  future — in 
this  case  the  football  results. 

Source:  www.ewt.org.za 

Langebaan  Lagoon  saved 

Intensive  lobbying  by  BirdLife  South 
Africa  and  its  partners  has  saved  the 
internationally  important  wetlands  of 
Langebaan  Lagoon  and  the  Saldanha 
Bay  area,  c.  100  km  north  of  Cape 
Town,  from  a port  development. 
Langebaan  Lagoon  is  an  Important 
Bird  Area  (IBA)  and  Ramsar  site, 
and  its  extensive  areas  of  mudflat, 
sandflat  and  succulent  saltmarsh 
regularly  support  more  than  34,500 
waders,  93%  of  which  are  Palearctic 
migrants.  In  the  southern  winter, 
the  lagoon  supports  more  than 
10,500  birds,  among  them  4,500 
Greater  Flamingos  Phoenicopterus 
{ruber)  roseus  and  4,000  waders. 
Langebaan  Lagoon  is  South  Africa’s 
most  important  wetland  for  waders, 
regularly  accounting  for  c.10%  of  the 
country’s  shorebird  numbers. 

Source:  www.birdlife.org 


African  Penguins  enabled  to  fish 
closer  to  home 

A ban  on  purse-seine  fishing  within 
20  km  of  an  African  Penguin 
Spheniscus  demersus  colony  on  St. 
Crois  Island,  in  Algoa  Bay,  South 
Africa,  has  enabled  the  birds  to  fish 
much  closer  to  home.  Penguins 
were  tagged  and  monitored  before 
and  after  the  ban  was  enforced.  It 
appeared  that  before  the  ban,  75% 
of  the  birds  had  to  swim  further 
than  20  km  to  find  food;  three 
months  after  the  ban,  70%  were  able 
to  forage  within  the  20-km  zone. 

The  African  Penguin  population 
decreased  by  60%  between  2001 
and  2009,  due  to  a sharp  decline  in 
anchovy  and  sardine  stocks  caused 
mainly  by  purse-seine  trawling  and 
climate  change. 

Source:  Africa  Geographic  1 8(3), 

p.  12 

Taxonomic  proposals 

A ‘new’  Buteo  species 

Richard  Porter  and  Guy  Kirwan 
have  described  a ‘new’  buzzard 
species,  Buteo  socotraensis  (Socotra 
Buzzard)  from  the  main  island  of 
Socotra.  First  collected  over  1 10 
years  ago  and  initially  considered  of 
taxonomic  interest  by  the  perceptive 
Ernst  Hartert  almost  a century  ago, 
the  difficulties  associated  with  Old 
World  Buteo  systematics,  coupled 
with  the  lack  of  specimens  (just  six 
are  available),  had  prevented  this 
problem  from  being  resolved  until 
now.  Extensive  field  experience 
proved  informative  in  describing 
the  new  taxon,  which  molecularly 
is  poorly  differentiated  from  most 


Socotra  Buzzard  / Buse  de  Socotra 
Buteo  socotraensis  (R.  F.  Porter, 

© British  Ornithologists’  Club) 


1 56  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Africa  Round-up 


Old  World  buzzards,  being  especially 
close  to  B.  buteo  bannermani 
of  the  Cape  Verdes  and  Long- 
legged  Buzzard  B.  rufvnus  of  the 
southern  Palearctic.  In  contrast,  its 
morphology  is  .similar  to  Mountain 
Buzzard  B.  oreophilus , and  clearly 
quite  different  from  its  closest 
genetic  relatives.  The  new  taxon, 
which  is  noticeably  short-winged, 
has  been  described  as  a new  species 
to  highlight  its  intriguing  position, 
both  morphologically  and  genetically. 
Socotra  Buzzard’s  small  population 
of  probably  <250  pairs  would  trigger 
its  immediate  categorisation  on  the 
1UCN  Red  Data  list,  should  BirdLife 
International  decide  to  recognise  it  as 
a species.  Fortunately,  the  majority 
ol  birds  occur  within  areas  already 
designated  for  protected  status. 

Source:  Bull.  Br.  Ornithol.  Cl.  130, 
pp.  116-131 

Black-collared  Bulbul  really  is  a 
bulbul! 

Dario  Zuccon  and  Per  Ericson, 
from  the  Swedish  Natural  History 
Museum,  have  used  nuclear  and 
mitochondrial  sequences  to  clarify 
the  phylogenetic  position  of  the 
Black-collared  Bulbul  Neolestes 
torquatus.  The  data  confirm  that 
it  is  indeed  a member  of  the 
Pycnonotidae  (bulbuls)  and  that  it 
is  actually  well  embedded  within  the 
family’s  Afrotropical  radiation.  Its 
systematic  position  has  varied  over 
the  years,  although  the  species  has 
usually  been  placed  within  or  close  to 
the  bulbuls,  but  doubts  have  persisted 
largely  because  its  striking  plumage  is 
in  complete  contrast  to  the  majority 


Black-collared  Bulbul  / Bulbul 
a collier  noir  Neolestes  torquatus 
(Jon  Hornbuckle) 


of  African  bulbul  species.  However, 
this  could  be  related  to  its  habitat 
preference  of  lightly  wooded  savanna, 
rather  than  the  predominantly 
forest-based  habitats  of  most  other 
‘greenbuls’. 

Source:  Ibis  1 52,  pp.  386-392 

Phylogeography  of  Green  Hylia 

Ben  Marks,  formerly  of  Louisiana 
State  University,  has  recently 
published  a phylogeographic 
study  of  the  Green  Hylia  Hylia 
prasina , a widely  distributed  forest 
species  belonging  to  a monotypic 
genus  that  occurs  from  Gambia  to 
western  Kenya,  including  the  Gulf 
of  Guinea  island  of  Bioko.  The 
insular  population  {H.  p.  poensis)  is 
recognised  subspecifically,  principally 
based  on  its  whiter  throat,  which 
distinguishes  it  from  all  mainland 
populations.  Surprisingly,  Marks 
uncovered  previously  unhinted  at 
genetic  diversity  within  mainland 
populations,  with  five  highly 
divergent  haplotype  groups  that 
are  distributed  in  accordance  with 
broad-scale  areas  of  endemism  in 
the  Afrotropics.  Marks  suggests 
that  if  the  pattern  of  geographic 
variation  in  Hylia  occurs  broadly  in 
other  widespread  rainforest  species, 
conservation  policy  makers  might 
need  to  rethink  their  priorities  for 
conservation  in  the  Afrotropics. 

Source:  Mol.  Phyl.  & Evol.  55, 
pp.  178-184 

Genetic  variation  in  Mascarene 
White-eye 

Mascarene  White-eye  Zosterops 
borbonicus  shows  a striking, 
geographically  structured  plumage 
polymorphism  on  the  topographically 
and  ecologically  complex  island  of 
Reunion  (three  subspecies,  Z.  b. 
borbonicus,  Z.  b.  alopekion  and  Z. 
b.  xerophilus ) yet  is  monotypic  on 
the  relatively  uniform  neighbouring 
island  of  Mauritius  (which 
population,  Z.  b.  mauritianus , has 
recently  been  treated  specifically  by 
the  IOC).  Independent  evolution 
of  the  Reunion  and  Mauritius 
populations  is  confirmed  by  a recent 
molecular  study.  Furthermore, 
populations  on  Reunion  showed 
significant  differentiation  into  three 


main  genetic  groups  separating 
lowland  from  highland  areas  despite 
the  small  geographic  distances 
involved.  Birds  in  the  highlands 
are  larger  but  have  relatively 
smaller  bills  than  in  the  lowlands, 
suggesting  the  role  of  selection  in 
shaping  morphology  and  restricting 
gene  flow.  However,  the  lack  of 
congruence  between  genetic  groups 
and  plumage  morphs  suggests  that 
the  latter  are  of  recent  origin  and 
probably  due  to  social  or  sexual 
selection  acting  on  few  loci.  The 
presence  of  sharp  and  stable  contact 
zones  between  plumage  morphs 
suggests  that  they  could  be  on 
independent  evolutionary  trajectories, 
yet  whether  or  not  they  represent 
incipient  species  will  require  further 
research  to  directly  assess  the  degree 
of  reproductive  isolation. 

Source:  BMC  Evol.  Biol.  10, 
doUO.l 186/1471-2148-10-158 

Socotran  endemics  update 

We  recently  {Bull.  ABC  15:  162) 
reported  that  a proposal  to  recognise 
Passer  insularis  hemileucus,  the 
so-called  ‘Abd  Al-Kuri  Sparrow,  at 
species  level  had  been  published. 

Now  genetic  data,  recently  obtained 
by  Pete  Ryan  et  al.  have  apparently 
confirmed  this  distinction.  BirdLife 
International,  in  ratifying  this 
proposal,  have  recently  listed  this 
sparrow  as  globally  threatened 
affording  it  the  Vulnerable  category, 
based  on  its  small  population 
(assumed  to  be  <1,000  mature 
individuals)  and  small  range  (the 
island  of  Abd  'Al  Kuri  is  just  133 
km2).  More  interestingly,  Ryan  and 
his  colleagues  studied  the  sparrows 
present  on  the  tiny  islands  of  Darsa 
and  Samha,  which  lie  closer  to  the 
main  island  of  Socotra,  finding 
some  plumage  and  morphometric 
differences  that  might  warrant  their 
recognition  as  a subspecies  of  Socotra 
Sparrow  P.  insularis. 

Separately,  Guy  Kirwan  and 
Andrew  Grieve  studied  the  position 
of  the  Socotran  endemic  race  of 
Long-billed  Pipit  Anthus  similis 
sokotrae.  They  found  that  many 
previously  published  plumage 
characters  used  to  differentiate  this 
taxon  are  extremely  marginal  or 


Africa  Round-up 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -157 


incorrect,  but  that  morphometries 
can  be  used  to  delimit  the  subspecies. 
These  authors  also  addressed  the 
issue  of  how  many  subspecies 
of  Long-billed  Pipit  should  be 
recognised  in  mainland  southern 
Arabia,  concluding  that  it  is  more 
appropriate  to  recognise  two,  rather 
than  three,  contra  the  suggestion  of 
the  late  Philip  Clancey. 

Sources:  Bull.  Br.  Ornithol.  Cl.  130, 
pp.  75—82;  Sandgrouse  32,  pp.  43-49 

Internet  resources 

Indigobirds  website 

A new  website  (www. indigobirds. 
com)  has  been  created  to  collect  and 
disseminate  information  about  the 
brood  parasitic  indigobirds  ( Vidua 
spp.).  The  multimedia  website 
summarises  research  on  these  birds, 
along  with  locality  records,  range 
maps,  pictures  and  sound-recordings. 
One  of  rhe  primary  objectives  is  to 
increase  knowledge  about  these  birds 
by  collecting  notes,  photographs  and 
especially  recordings  of  indigobird 
songs  from  students,  birders,  and 
both  amateur  and  professional 
ornithologists.  Because  indigobird 
species  are  morphologically  similar 
and  difficult  to  identify  in  the 
field,  the  distributions  of  these 
birds  are  poorly  known.  Indigobird 
males,  however,  convey  critical 
information  in  their  songs;  by 
mimicking  their  host  species,  males 
provide  an  unambiguous  indication 
of  the  species  that  raised  them. 


In  consequence,  the  website’s 
creators  are  particularly  interested 
in  gathering  geo-referenced  sound 
or  video  recordings  of  indigobirds 
throughout  Africa.  Please  e-mail 
them  at  indigos@bu.edu. 

Source:  Jeffrey  DaCosta  & Michael 
Sorenson  in  litt.  to  African  Birding 
May  2010 

Niger  bird  database 

The  new  Niger  bird  database,  in 
English  and  French,  can  now  be 
accessed  via  http://www.bromus.net/ 
nibdab.  The  site  promotes  knowledge 
and  conservation  of  the  birds  of 
Niger.  Geo-referenced  observations 
can  be  entered,  analysed  and  shown 
on  maps  with  a few  clicks  of  the 
mouse  and  minimal  typing.  The  page 
can  also  be  used  to  produce  site  lists, 
and  to  find  out  where  to  look  for 
certain  species.  Bird  images  from  the 
country  can  be  uploaded,  and  there  is 
a blog  facility. 

Source:  Joost  Brouwer  & UlfLieden  in 
litt.  June  2010 

New  blog  on  birds  of  La  Palma, 
Canaries 

A blog  on  the  birds  of  La  Palma, 
Canary  Islands,  has  been  created  by 
Robert  Burton,  a keen  birder  and 
bird  photographer  living  on  the 
island.  Visit  http://lapalmabirds. 
blogspot.com/ 

Source:  Ruben  Barone  in  litt. 

February  2010 


Request 

Owls  of  the  World— a request 
for  photographs 

In  2012,  A.  & C.  Black  will 
be  publishing  a definitive 
photographic  guide  to  the 
world’s  250  species  of  owls, 
and  the  process  of  sourcing  and 
selecting  photographs  is  now 
well  underway.  Owls  of  the  World 
is  being  written  by  Finnish 
owl  expert  Heimo  Mikkola, 
and  the  publisher  is  inviting 
photographers  and  birders  around 
the  world  to  submit  images 
(preferably  digital)  for  use  in  the 
book,  which  will  place  particular 
emphasis  on  plumage  variation 
and  racial  separation.  Photographs 
of  young  birds,  island  endemics 
and  adults  in  flight  are 
particularly  welcome!  If  you  can 
help,  please  send  an  e-mail  in  the 
first  instance  to  Ellen  Parnavelas 
(eparnavelas@acblack.com) . 

Corrigendum 

The  team  searching  for  Sociable 
Lapwings  Vanellus  gregarius  in  the 
highlands  of  Eritrea  in  December 
2009  did  not  find  this  species, 
as  erroneously  reported  in  the 
previous  ABC  Conservation  Fund 
news  [Bull.  ABC  17:  7) — they 
observed  only  flocks  of  Black- 
winged Lapwings  V.  melanopterus. 


Advertise  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  ABC 

Reach  over  1,200  subscribers  in  more  than  60  countries. 

Copy  deadlines 

Advertisements  should  be  submitted  as  high-resolution 

March  Bulletin  15  January 

August  Bulletin  1 5 June  l^y 

PDF,  Quark  or  Pagemaker  files,  preferably  by  e-mail  to  the 

L/ 

Advertising  Officer  - advertising@africanbirdclub.org. 

vr 

Rates  and  technical  details 

All  advertisements  must  be  prepaid:  cheques  made  payable 

are  available  on  the  ABC  web  site  at: 

to  the  African  Bird  Club  or  payment  made  via  the  ABC 

www.afiicanbirdclub.org/club/advertise.html 

website  www.africanbirdclub.org. 

158 -Bull ABC  Vol  17 No  2 (2010) 


Africa  Round-up 


Further  ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and 
Mabu  Mountains  (northern  Mozambique),  and  the 
urgent  need  to  conserve  their  forests 

Franco i se  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Nouvelles  decouvertes  ornithologiques  dans  les  montagnes  de  Namuli  et  Mabu  (nord  du 
Mozambique),  et  la  necessite  urgente  de  proteger  leurs  forets.  Cet  article  presente  les  resultats  de 
deux  expeditions  recentes  au  Mont  Namuli  (novembre  2007)  et  au  Mont  Mabu  (octobre  2008)  au 
Mozambique,  au  cours  desquelles  plusieurs  especes  menacees  et  d’interet  biogeographique  ont  ete 
decouvertes.  Des  corrections  sont  apportees  a la  liste  des  oiseaux  presentee  pour  Namuli  par  Ryan  et  al. 
(1999a),  et  les  densites  d’especes  proposees  par  ces  auteurs  sont  revues  nettement  a la  baisse.  Le  massif  de 
Mabu  est  recouvert  de  la  plus  grande  foret  d’altitude  moyenne  de  la  region,  c.60-70  km2  entre  1.000  et 

1.650  m.  Cette  foret  est  assez  peu  menacee  contrairement  aux  fragments  qui  subsistent  a Namuli,  a plus 
haute  altitude  (principalement  1.600-1.900  m)  et  totalisant  environ  13  km2.  Bien  que  P Apalis  de  Namuli 
Apalis  ( thoracica ) lynesi  et  la  Grive-akalat  tachetee  Modulatrix  orostruthus  viennent  d’etre  decouvertes  a 
Mabu,  elles  y sont  tres  rares,  done  il  est  urgent  de  sauver  ce  qui  reste  de  la  foret  de  Namuli  ou  ces  especes 
sont  nettement  plus  communes.  La  foret  de  Mabu,  par  contre,  est  tres  importante  pour  la  sauvegarde  de 
1 Alethe  de  Cholo  Alethe  choloensis  et  la  race  belcheri  du  Barbican  olivatre  Stactolaema  olivacea  (deux  especes 
beaucoup  plus  nombreuses  qu’a  Namuli),  ainsi  que  de  l’Akalat  de  Swynnerton  Swynnertonia  swynnertoni 
(nouveau  pour  le  nord  du  Mozambique)  et  l’Akalat  de  Gunning  Sheppardia  gunningi.  La  Grive  terrestre 
tachetee  Zoothera  guttata  niche  probablement  dans  les  deux  massifs.  La  foret  de  Mabu  abrite  aussi  les  plus 
importantes  populations  au  niveau  regional  du  Pigeon  de  Delegorgue  Columba  delegorguei , Calao  a joue 
argent  Bycanistes  brevis , Barbican  olivatre,  Echenilleur  gris  Coracina  caesia  et  Loriot  a tete  verte  Oriolus 
chlorocephalus.  Quelque  127  especes  sont  connues  de  Mabu. 

Summary.  Several  species  of  conservation  concern  or  biogeographical  interest  were  discovered  during  two 
recent  expeditions  to  Mount  Namuli  (November  2007)  and  Mount  Mabu  (October  2008)  in  Mozambique. 
Corrections  are  made  to  the  list  of  species  presented  for  Namuli  by  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a),  and  densities  of 
species  proposed  by  the  same  authors  must  be  revised  downward  by  a factor  of  5-30.  The  Mabu  massif  is 
covered  with  the  most  extensive  mid-altitude  rain  forest  in  the  region,  of  c.60-70  km2  between  1,000  and 

1.650  m.  This  forest  is  not  seriously  threatened  at  present,  unlike  those  higher  altitude  remnant  fragments 
on  Namuli  (mainly  at  1,600-1,900  m),  totalling  some  13  km2.  Although  Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  ( thoracica ) 
lynesi  and  Dapple-throat  Modulatrix  orostruthus  have  recently  been  discovered  on  Mabu,  they  are  very  rare 
there  and  it  is  therefore  urgent  to  save  the  forest  remnants  on  Namuli  where  these  two  species  occur  at 
much  higher  densities.  The  forest  on  Mabu  is,  on  the  other  hand,  of  the  utmost  importance  for  preserving 
the  endangered  Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis  and  the  race  belcheri  of  Green  Barber  Stactolaema  olivacea,  as 
these  two  species  are  much  more  numerous  than  at  Namuli,  as  well  as  Swynnerton's  Robin  Swynnertonia 
swynnertoni  (new  for  Mozambique)  and  East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunningi.  Spotted  Ground  Thrush 
Zoothera  guttata  probably  breeds  on  both  massifs.  Mabu  Forest  holds  the  most  important  regional  popula- 
tions of  Eastern  Bronze-naped  Pigeon  Columba  delegorguei.  Green  Barber,  Grey  Cuckooshrike  Coracina 
caesia  and  Green-headed  Oriole  Oriolus  chlorocephalus.  Some  127  species  are  known  to  occur  at  Mabu. 


Mount  Namuli  is  the  largest  massif  in 
Mozambique  north  of  the  Zambezi,  with 
a granitic  dome  rising  to  2,419  m.  It  lies  160  km 
north-east  of  Mount  Mulanje  in  Malawi  (3,002 
m),  the  tallest  mountain  in  south-central  Africa. 
Mount  Mabu,  situated  160  km  south-west  of 
Namuli  and  90  km  south-east  of  Mulanje,  is  lower 
(peak  1,710  m)  but  more  extensively  forested; 


it  is  70  km  east-north-east  of  Mount  Chiperone 
(2,054  m),  the  second-tallest  massif  in  northern 
Mozambique  (Fig.  1).  Mulanje  has  the  widest 
altitudinal  range  of  forest,  from  700  to  2,300 
m,  but  the  largest  block  of  forest  on  the  wetter, 
south-eastern  slopes  was  illegally  destroyed  lor 
farms,  up  to  the  level  of  1,600  m;  total  forest 
cover  was  recently  estimated  at  just  less  than  70 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -159 


Figure  1.  Map  showing  main  massifs  in  southern  Malawi 
and  adjacent  Mozambique. 

Carte  montrant  les  principaux  massifs  montagneux  du  sud 
du  Malawi  et  Mozambique  voisin. 


Figure  3.  Summit  of  Mount  Namuli,  with  Ukalini  Forest 
in  the  saddle  below  (Jonathan  Timberlake) 

Sommet  du  Mont  Namuli,  avec  la  foret  d’Ukalini  sur  le 
replat  en  dessous  (Jonathan  Timberlake) 


Figure  5.  Extensive  undulating  forest  on  Mount  Mabu, 
asseen  from  near  the  peak  (Julian  Bayliss) 

La  foret  du  Mont  Mabu  s’etend  a perte  de  vue,  comme 
ici  pres  du  sommet  (Julian  Bayliss) 


Figure  2.  Part  of  Manho  Forest,  the  largest  patch  on 
Namuli  (Jonathan  Timberlake) 

Une  partie  de  la  foret  de  Manho,  le  bloc  le  plus  etendu  a 
Namuli  (Jonathan  Timberlake) 


Figure  4.  Muretha  Plateau,  with  mosaic  of  forest  patches 
and  grassland,  and  Namuli  peak  in  the  background 
(Frangoise  Dowsett-Lemaire) 

Plateau  de  Muretha,  avec  mosai'que  de  petites  forets  et 
prairies,  et  le  sommet  de  Namuli  au  fond  (Franchise 
Dowsett-Lemai  re) 


Figure  6.  Specimens  of  Bar-throated  Apalis  Apalis 
thoracica  of  the  subspecies  flavigularis  (above)  and  of 
Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  ( thoracica ) lynesi  (Lincoln  Fishpool  © 
Natural  History  Museum,  Tring) 

Specimens  de  T Apalis  a gorge  barree  Apalis  thoracica  de  la 
race  flavigularis  (en  haut)  et  de  I’Apalis  de  Namuli  Apalis 
(. thoracica ) lynesi  (Lincoln  Fishpool  © Natural  History 
Museum,  Tring) 


160  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


krrr  (Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006:  81). 
The  forest  remaining  around  Namuli  peak  covers 
c.  13  km2,  most  of  it  above  1,600  m.  The  forest 
on  Mabu,  covering  60-70  km2  at  elevations  of 
c.  1,000  to  1,650  m,  represents  the  largest  single 
block  of  mid-altitude  forest  in  Mozambique  and 
in  the  wider  region. 

While  Mount  Namuli  has  been  visited  by 
several  ornithologists,  commencing  with  Vincent 
in  1932  (Vincent  1933,  1933-36),  and  followed 
by  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a,  1999b),  the  avifauna  of 
Mabu  was  entirely  unknown  until  December 
2005,  when  C.  Spottiswoode  and  colleagues  spent 
four  days  in  the  foothills  and  lower  slopes,  up  to 
1,220  m (Spottiswoode  et  al.  2008).  In  2007-08 
a multidisciplinary  team  of  scientists  supported 
by  the  Darwin  Initiative  (UK)  visited  Namuli 
and  Mabu.  Demey  (2007)  took  part  in  the  first 
expedition  to  Namuli,  on  22  May-5  June,  while  I 
was  part  of  the  second,  on  14-27  November  2007, 
and  participated  in  the  survey  of  Mabu  on  1 0-30 
October  2008,  with  R.  J.  Dowsett  and  L.  D.  C. 
Fishpool  (the  latter  on  17-29  October  only). 
In  November  2007,  K.  Cook  from  the  Natural 
History  Museum,  Tring,  collected  49  birds  of  20 
species  on  Namuli.  It  should  also  be  mentioned 
that  staff  from  Chicago’s  Field  Museum  collected 
birds  at  Namuli  in  July-August  2003,  and  for 
three  months  in  2004,  based  on  Muretha  Plateau 
(J.  Bayliss  in  lift.  2009).  The  results  of  these 
collections  have  never  been  published,  but  a list  of 
specimens  for  2003  was  placed  on  the  museum's 
website  (http://fml.fieldmuseum.org/birds/brd_ 
index. php,  accessed  30  January  2008);  details  of 
the  2004  collections  remain  unavailable. 

Vincent  collected  two  bird  species  new  to 
science  on  Namuli:  the  enigmatic  Dapple-throat 
Modulatrix  orostrutbus  and  Namuli  Apalis  Apalis 
(tboracica)  lynesi.  The  latter  is  a close  relative  of 
Bar-throated  Apalis  A.  thoracica  and  until  recently 
was  considered  endemic  to  Namuli;  the  former  is 
represented  by  the  nominate  form,  another  two 
races  having  been  discovered  subsequently  on 
mountains  in  central  and  northern  Tanzania  (Keith 
et  al.  1992).  Vincent  also  discovered  populations 
of  the  (now)  Endangered  Cholo  Alethe  Aletbe 
cboloensis  (a  species  endemic  to  south-eastern 
Malawi  and  adjacent  Mozambique)  and  of  the 
race  belcheri  of  Green  Barbet  Stactolaema  olivacea, 
shared  with  I hyolo  Mountain  in  southern  Malawi, 
which  is  now  almost  wholly  deforested  (Dowsett- 


Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006).  From  a week’s  survey 
in  late  1998,  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a,  1999b)  proposed 
exceptionally  high  density  estimates  of  the  more 
frequent  bird  species.  Two  other  visits  (by  M. 
Melo  et  al.,  in  December  2001,  and  R.  Demey) 
were  respectively  too  short  or  at  the  wrong  season 
to  study  bird  densities.  Thus,  one  of  the  main 
purposes  of  the  present  survey  was  to  re-evaluate 
the  densities  of  those  key  species  for  which  the 
conservation  of  Namuli  is  especially  important. 

The  preliminary  survey  of  Mabu  by 
Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008)  located  two  threatened 
bird  species,  Cholo  Alethe  and  East  Coast  Akalat 
Sheppardia  gunningi,  but  much  remained  to  be 
explored,  especially  at  higher  altitudes.  October, 
at  the  end  of  the  dry  season,  was  chosen  for 
this  survey  for  at  least  two  reasons:  it  normally 
coincides  with  the  start  of  the  breeding  season 
in  this  part  of  Africa  ( cf.  Dowsett-Lemaire  & 
Dowsett  2006)  and  it  was  hoped  that  access  and 
exploration  would  not  be  impaired  by  heavy  rain. 

Notes  on  selected  species  are  followed  by  a full 
list  of  bird  species  recorded  at  Mabu  (Appendix 
2),  preceded  by  a Gazetteer  (Appendix  1).  Ryan  et 
al.  (1999a)  presented  a consolidated  species  list  for 
Namuli;  some  important  additions  or  corrections 
are  mentioned  here;  others  are  given  in  Dowsett- 
Lemaire  (2008b). 

Site  description  and  location  of  surveys 

Namuli 

The  massif  is  part  of  a fairly  extensive  plateau  40 
x 50  km  wide,  at  1,100-1,200  m,  rising  above 
the  peneplain  at  600-700  m.  Access  is  via  the 
small  town  of  Gurue,  on  the  southern  side.  From 
the  tea  estates  above  Gurue  a rough  road  leads  to 
the  Malema  River,  met  at  an  altitude  of  1,250  m. 
The  vegetation  is  a mosaic  of  forest,  grassland  and 
large  granitic  domes.  The  semi-forested  plateau 
south  of  the  Malema  Valley  has  yet  to  be  explored 
by  any  naturalist  and  the  remnant  forest  patches 
there  are  in  the  process  of  being  destroyed  by 
shifting  cultivation  and  fires.  The  forest  nearer  the 
peak,  visited  by  Vincent  and  others,  is  of  the  order 
of  1,300  ha,  most  of  it  comprising  a large  dissected 
block  on  the  south-western  slopes  of  Muretha 
Plateau  called  Manho  Forest,  c.  1,000-1,100  ha 
in  extent  (Fig.  2).  Manho  Forest  is  typically 
Afromontane,  dominant  emergent  trees  at  1,600- 
1,850  m being  Cryptocarya  liebertiana , Faurea 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -161 


wentzeliana  and  Olea  capensis  (25-30  m tall).  The 
second-largest  block  of  forest  lies  in  the  Ukalini 
saddle,  lodged  against  the  base  of  the  Namuli 
dome  itself,  at  1,580-1,750  m,  with  galleries 
ascending  to  c.  1,900  m:  the  whole  covers  r.100  ha 
(Fig.  3).  The  most  extensive  grassland  (c.170  ha) 
is  on  Muretha  Plateau  at  1 ,800—1 ,900  m.  Much 
of  this  is  seasonally  water-logged,  on  black  peaty 
soil,  and  the  tussocky  nature  of  this  grass  makes 
walking  very  difficult,  except  on  old  game  tracks 
now  used  by  domestic  goats.  Muretha  Plateau  is 
dotted  with  small  forest  patches  (in  which  Myrica 
humilis,  Prunus  africana  and  Syzygium  cordatum 
are  common),  often  of  1-2  ha  (Fig.  4).  Montane 
shrubland  is  of  limited  extent  and  floristically 
poor,  patches  of  bracken  Pteridium  aqudinum  also 
occur  in  the  vicinity  of  forest  or  on  slopes  above 
the  wet  grassland. 

Strips  of  riparian  forest  (with  Albizia 
adianthifolia,  Newtonia  buchananii  and  Parinari 
excelsa  the  dominant  large  trees)  occur  on  the 
lower  slopes,  mainly  at  1,150-1,450  m,  e.g.  along 
the  Malema  River,  and  the  Nanchili  stream  that 
descends  from  Ukalini.  These  mid-altitude  forests 
were  formerly  more  extensive,  but  had  already 
been  greatly  reduced  by  the  late  1960s,  when 
aerial  photos  were  taken.  They  continue  to  regress 
as  a result  of  fires  and  direct  logging;  in  November 
2007  some  new  maize  fields  had  been  planted 
in  place  of  forest  right  beside  the  Malema  and 
Nanchili  streams.  Away  from  the  forested  gullies 
some  trees  have  survived  the  fires  and  locally 
form  a type  of  evergreen  woodland  dominated 
by  Syzygium  cordatum-,  this  Syzygium  may  form  a 
closed  canopy  adjacent  to  riparian  forest.  Syzygium 
woodland  is  what  was  called  ‘miombo’  by  Ryan  et 
al.  (1999a,  1999b,  cf  their  photo  2),  but  there  is 
no  miombo  ( Brachystegia ) woodland  on  Namuli. 

Vincent  (1933)  camped  from  21  July  to  10 
August  1932  at  1,400  m on  the  Nanchili  stream, 
just  below  the  Ukalini  shelf.  He  collected  c.250 
specimens  of  53  species  from  1,370  m to  nearly 
2,000  m,  and  made  observations  on  an  additional 
dozen  species.  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a,  1999b)  visited 
on  27  November-4  December  1998,  using  two 
different  camp  sites  on  the  Nanchili  stream  (at 
1,170  and  1,250  m),  and  one  at  the  lower  edge  of 
Ukalini  Forest.  From  Ukalini,  they  spent  one  day 
visiting  Muretha  Plateau. 

In  2007  our  base  camp  was  located  on 
Muretha  Plateau,  at  1,860  m,  for  nine  days 


(15-23  November),  from  where  Manho  Forest 
and  several  small  patches  on  the  plateau  were 
investigated.  In  addition  two  nights  were  spent 
in  Ukalini  Forest,  and  two  on  the  Malema  River 
at  1,250  m,  during  which  time  I also  explored 
riparian  forest  on  the  Nanchili  stream.  There  were 
four  big  storms  during  our  stay. 

Mabu 

The  peak  comprises  a granite  dome  which,  together 
with  a few  other  granitic  formations,  rises  above  a 
sea  of  undulating  forest  (Fig.  5).  The  lower  slopes 
are  covered  in  transition  woodland,  riparian  forest 
(down  to  at  least  300  m),  cultivation  and  a large 
expanse  of  neglected  tea  plantations  (deserted  in 
the  early  1980s).  The  latter  have  developed  into 
dense  tea  forest  ( Camellia  sinensis ) 10-12  m tall, 
overtopped  by  indigenous  forest  trees  (mostly 
Albizia  adianthifolia).  Transition  woodland  is 
dominated  by  Pterocarpus  angolensis  at  low  levels, 
gradually  replaced  with  increasing  altitude  by  the 
evergreen  Syzygium  cordatum,  up  to  the  lower 
edges  of  the  forest  block  around  950  m.  The 
limit  between  mid-altitude  and  Afromontane 
rain  forest  is  clearly  around  1,350-1,400  m, 
as  shown  by  a sudden  change  in  tree  and  bird 
species  composition.  Some  large  trees  occur 
throughout  (e.g.  Chrysophyllum  gorungosanum, 
Cryptocarya  liebertiana , Drypetes  gerrardii,  Parinari 
excelsa,  Polyscias  fulva  and  especially  Strombosia 
scheffleri,  the  commonest  species),  while  Newtonia 
buchananii  and  Maranthes  goetzeniana  drop  out 
just  above  1,400  m,  Albizia  adianthifolia  drops 
out  just  above  1,350  m (to  be  replaced  higher 
by  A.  gummifera)  and  Olea  capensis  appears  at 
1,350-1,400  m.  Typical  montane  trees  near  the 
upper  edges  (1,600-1,650  m)  include  Pittosporum 
viridiflorum,  Prunus  africana  and  Rapanea 
melanophloeos.  Canopy  height  gradually  decreases 
from  40-45  m around  980-1,000  m to  25-30 
m around  1 ,400  m.  There  are  several  permanent 
rocky  streams  in  the  forest,  lined  with  Cyathea 
tree  ferns  and  huge  Oreobambos  bamboos.  Most 
of  the  large  block  of  forest  lies  between  1 ,000  and 
1,400  m;  overall  forest  cover  above  1,400  m is  of 
the  order  ol  800  ha  (J.  Bayliss  in  lift.  2009).  Small 
patches  of  montane  shrubland  grow  around  the 
base  of  the  peak;  large  boulders  and  rocky  slopes 
are  covered  by  scattered  tufts  of  grass. 

Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008)  spent  10-14 
December  2005  at  Mabu,  shared  between  the  tea 


1 62  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


and  other  lowland  forest  and  the  lower  slopes  of 
the  main  forest.  In  October  2008,  1 spent  four 
nights  at  an  altitude  of  540  m by  the  old  tea  estate 
manager’s  house  (10-12  and  29  October)  when 
riparian  forest,  mixed  tea  forest  and  transition 
woodland  were  explored,  and  16  nights  in  the 
rain  forest,  mainly  around  1,000  m (‘main  forest 
camp’),  with  four  nights  also  at  higher  levels 
(satellite  camps  near  the  summit  at  1,400  m,  and 
at  1,300  m north-west  of  the  main  camp).  The 
weather  was  hot  and  dry,  with  the  first  rains  falling 
on  21  and  26/27  October. 

Notes  on  selected  bird  species 

The  category  of  threat  for  Red  List  species  is  based 
on  BirdLife  International  (2008). 

Southern  Banded  Snake  Eagle  Circaetus 
fasciolatus 

Near  Threatened.  Mabu:  this  Eastern  endemic 
was  heard  and  seen  on  most  days  between  400 
and  1,500  m (at  forest  edges  below  the  peak),  but 
mostly  below  1,000  m.  In  forest  and  transition 
woodland.  Often  sings  perched  early  morning 
(calling  from  04.30  hrs  until  daybreak),  and  in 
display- flight  in  the  warm  hours  of  the  day.  Tape- 
recorded.  Unrecorded  from  adjacent  Malawi, 
its  discovery  at  Mabu  represents  a small  range 
extension:  the  nearest  record  is  from  Mopeia  in 
the  Lower  Zambezi  Valley  (Hanmer  1976). 

Crowned  Eagle  Stephanoaetus  coronatus 
No  record  on  Namuli  since  Vincent  (1933-36)  in 
1932,  but,  despite  Ryan  etal.'s  (1999a)  misgivings, 
one  pair  was  still  holding  a territory  over  Manho 
Forest  in  November  2007.  Given  the  size  of  the 
forest  and  the  enormous  territories  of  Crowned 
Eagles,  it  is  unlikely  there  is  more  than  one  pair 
in  the  area.  Common  over  Mabu  Forest,  which  is 
likely  to  hold  several  pairs. 

Falcons  Falco  spp. 

There  is  a neat  separation  of  home  ranges  between 
the  three  breeding  Falco  species  at  Namuli.  A 
pair  of  Common  Kestrels  F.  tinnunculus  was 
feeding  two  full-grown  juveniles  on  a small 
rocky  outcrop  above  Manho  Forest  at  1,820  m 
(17-20  November);  another  was  seen  between 
Muretha  and  Ukalini.  A pair  of  Lanner  Falcons  F. 
biarmicus  was  occupying  a territory  over  another 
part  of  Manho  Forest  and  adjacent  grassland, 


around  a rocky  pinnacle  where  they  were  probably 
breeding;  very  aggressive  towards  other  Lanners 
and  larger  raptors  (e.g.  a Booted  Eagle  Hieraaetus 
pennatus  was  attacked  on  16  November).  A pair 
of  Peregrine  Falcons  F.  peregrinus  was  breeding  on 
the  cliff  of  Namuli  peak  directly  above  Ukalini, 
with  prey  brought  to  a partner  or  noisy  young 
several  times  daily.  Ryan  et  al.  (1999b)  had 
noted  Peregrine  in  the  same  area.  At  Mabu,  only 
Peregrine  was  seen  around  the  peak. 

Guineafowls 

Crested  Guineafowl  Guttera  pucherani  is  well 
known  to  local  hunters  at  Mabu  from  forest 
patches  at  low  altitude,  up  to  c.  1,000  m.  We 
did  not  encounter  this  species,  which  is  much 
hunted  and  decreasing,  and  in  danger  of  being 
exterminated.  At  Namuli,  Helmeted  Guineafowl 
Numida  meleagris  was  encountered  regularly  in 
mid-altitude  and  montane  forest,  throughout,  at 
1,270-1,900  m.  This  is  very  unusual  habitat  for 
the  species:  is  it  possible  that  guineafowls  have 
been  pushed  into  marginal  montane  habitat  by 
hunting  pressure? 

Flufftails  Sarotbrura  spp. 

Striped  Flufftail  S.  affinis  was  reported  from 
Namuli  by  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a,  1999b),  based 
on  a bird  seen  in  flight  on  Muretha  Plateau. 
The  observer  (P.  Ryan  in  litt.  2008)  agrees  that 
this  record  (repeated  in  Parker  2001)  requires 
confirmation.  Although  Melo  et  al.  (n.d.)  cite 
the  same  species,  their  record  is  based  on  a 
female  flushed  and  unidentified  as  to  species 
(M.  Melo  pers.  comm.).  The  only  flufftail  I 
found  on  Muretha  Plateau  is  Red-chested  S.  rufa, 
which  was  heard  on  several  occasions  in  the  wet 
meadows  with  tall  grass  near  the  stream  at  base 
camp,  and  further  up  the  valley  where  it  appeared 
common.  Other  species  characteristic  of  this  wet 
type  of  grassland  on  Muretha  include  Broad-tailed 
Warbler  Schoenicola  brevirostris  and  Red-collared 
Whydah  Euplectes  ardens.  Playback  experiments 
with  the  songs  and  calls  of  both  Sarotbrura  elicited 
responses  from  Red-chested  only  (tape-recorded); 
the  characteristic  territorial  calls  ( kuwa-kuwa - 
kuwa  . . . ) were  even  imitated  by  an  Olive  Thrush 
Furdus  olivaceus  in  its  song.  Thus  it  is  probably  the 
only  flufftail  on  Muretha;  the  dry  or  well-drained 
montane  grassland  favoured  by  Striped  Flufftail  in 
the  tropics  is  hardly  available  at  Namuli.  Striped 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -163 


Flufftail  is  known  from  montane  grassland  in  the 
Chimanimani  Mountains  (Masterson  & Child 
1959),  but  it  is  not  clear  whether  it  has  been 
recorded  irom  the  Mozambique  side,  and  there 
is  more  grassland  on  the  Zimbabwe  side.  In  other 
words,  rhe  occurrence  of  Striped  Flufftail  in 
Mozambique  remains  unproven. 

Pigeons  Columba  spp. 

Eastern  Bronze-naped  Pigeon  Columba  delegorguei. 
Discovered  by  Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008)  in 
the  foothills  of  Mount  Chiperone,  this  species 
also  occurs  on  Mabu,  in  small  numbers.  It  was 
widespread  in  the  forest  canopy  at  980-1,420 
m.  Vocal  activity  apparently  decreased  from  mid 
October.  Following  deforestation  at  Thyolo,  it 
is  now  extinct  in  Malawi,  where  it  was  probably 
no  more  than  a scarce  seasonal  visitor  (Dowsett- 
Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006).  The  origin  of  the 
Thyolo  birds  was  probably  from  this  Mozambique 
population,  still  a long  way  from  the  nearest 
previously  known  populations  in  eastern  Zimbabwe 
and  on  Mount  Gorongosa  (Irwin  1981,  Oatley 
& Tinley  1989)  and  in  central  Tanzania  on  the 
Udzungwas  (Stuart  & Jensen  1987). 

At  Mabu  there  is  very  little  altitudinal  overlap 
with  Rameron  Pigeon  C.  arquatrix , a specialised 
montane  frugivore  which  was  found  feeding  at 
1,350-1 ,400  m and  above  on  the  fruits  of  Polyscias 
and  Olea.  As  the  great  majority  of  Olea  capensis 
were  flowering,  this  pigeon's  population  would 
be  expected  to  increase  the  following  year  (as  Olea 
fruit  bi-annually,  see  also  Dowsett-Lemaire  1988). 
It  is  curious  that  in  2007  Olea  were  also  at  the 
flowering  stage  at  Namuli,  thus  ‘olive  years’  seem 
to  occur  in  alternate  years  on  Namuli  and  Mabu. 

Selected  swift  species 

The  most  numerous  swift  over  Namuli  was  African 
Black  Swift  Apus  barbatus,  which  was  seen  daily 
sometimes  in  hundreds.  Often  feeding  low  down 
over  rhe  lip  of  Muretha  Plateau,  and  over  rock 
faces.  In  November  breeding  was  well  advanced: 
four  pairs  were  feeding  noisy  fledglings  in  a cleft 
on  a small  vertical  cliff  above  Manho  (1,840  m,  20 
November).  In  addition  to  the  characteristic  rasping 
screams  of  adults,  the  calls  of  recently  fledged  birds 
tititititi  were  heard  in  many  flocks.  By  contrast, 
Scarce  Swift  Schoutedenapus  myoptilus , an  intra- 
African  migrant,  breeds  later:  aerial  mating  was 
observed  on  20  November  over  Manho  Forest. 


Although  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  did  not  report 
African  Black  Swifr,  nor  did  they  include  it  in 
the  table  summarising  previous  records,  Vincent 
(1933-36)  had  noted  the  species  as  common 
at  1,500-2,100  m.  Neither  of  these  two  swifts 
was  found  at  Mabu.  Scarce  Swift,  in  particular, 
could  be  expected  to  occur  but  the  arrival  of  this 
noisy  bird  was  perhaps  delayed  by  the  prolonged 
drought  in  the  area.  In  adjacent  Malawi  most 
birds  seen  in  September-October  are  on  passage, 
and  they  do  not  settle  in  a forested  area  until 
the  rains  set  in;  aerial  copulation  was  observed 
there  from  late  October  to  December  (Dowsett- 
Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006). 

Silvery-cheeked  Hornbill  Bycanistes  brevis 
No  records  at  Namuli  before  November  2007, 
when  singles  or  pairs  were  located  at  mid  and 
high  altitudes  on  three  dates,  possibly  just  passing 
through.  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  recorded  the  species 
in  a patch  of  forest  near  Gurue  (1,400  m).  A much 
larger  population  exists  at  Mabu,  at  500-1,600 
m.  Much  movement  of  pairs  or  family  groups  was 
noted  across  the  forest,  as,  for  example,  near  the 
main  camp  where  they  fed  in  a fruiting  Sapium 
ellipticum , and  some  ate  figs  of  Ficus  scassellatii  at 
1 ,400  m.  Appeared  not  to  be  breeding  in  October, 
when  the  quantity  of  fruit  in  the  forest  was  low 
since,  in  particular,  most  strangler  figs  were  not 
in  fruit  (whereas  they  are  in  Malawi  at  this  time). 
The  population  of  this  hornbill  has  dwindled 
considerably  in  the  region  due  to  much  recent 
deforestation  in  southern  Malawi,  so  Mabu  has 
acquired  a special  importance  for  the  species. 

Green  Barbet  Stactolaema  olivacea 
Heard  by  Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008)  at  Mabu, 
the  species  was  common  in  the  main  forest  at  all 
elevations,  with  a few  pairs  also  in  riparian  patches 
lower  down  (to  750  m).  A pair  observed  at  close 
range  around  a nesr  appeared  to  be  of  the  race 
belcheri  of  Thyolo  and  Namuli  (dark  blackish 
head,  dark  olive  breast  contrasting  with  olive  belly, 
pale  brown  patch  behind  eye  inconspicuous). 
Mabu  thus  harbours  the  most  important 
population  of  this  distinctive  race,  in  the  order  of 
several  hundred  pairs  (probably  >500).  Details  of 
brooding  and  feeding  behaviour  can  be  found  in 
Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsetr  (2009). 

The  population  at  Namuli  is  much  smaller, 
probably  just  30-40  pairs.  The  species  is  common 


1 64  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namidi  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


in  the  small  Ukalini  Forest,  but  scarce  at  Manho: 
only  four  occupied  territories  were  located  there, 
along  the  ‘circuit  route’  crossing  the  whole  forest. 
The  distance  between  the  first  two  territories 
was  700  m.  There  is  little  doubt  that  Green 
Barbets  must  have  been  formerly  more  numerous 
at  Namuli,  when  mid-altitude  forest  was  more 
extensive.  Four  ol  Vincent  s eight  specimens  were 
collected  at  1,400-1,500  m (K.  Cook  in  litt. 
2008),  in  what  Vincent  (1933-36)  described  as 
thick  jungle  or  high  forest,  an  area  where  today 
there  is  only  narrow  riparian  forest. 

Eastern  Green  Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus  simplex 
Discovered  on  Namuli  in  November  2007,  but 
scarce.  One  bird  (tape-recorded)  held  a territory 
in  Manho  Forest  at  1,720  m,  covering  a large 
area  (at  least  10  ha),  and  another  was  heard  in 
Parinari-Syzygium  cordatum  forest  above  Nanchili 
stream  at  c.  1,300  m.  The  species  was  not  found 
on  Mabu  where,  curiously,  playback  at  900  m 
provoked  a strong  vocal  reaction  from  a Yellow- 
rumped  Tinkerbird  P.  bilineatus.  This  may  be  the 
result  of  the  superficial  resemblance  between  the 
staccato  song  of  Eastern  Green  and  the  rolled  call 
of  Yellow-rumped,  or  it  might  mean  that  Eastern 
Green  exists  somewhere  in  the  area  (but,  if  so,  it 
must  be  rare). 

There  is  only  one  previous  record  from 
Mozambique,  in  coastal  forest  in  the  south  (a 
specimen  from  Inhambane  District,  2434C1: 
Clancey  1971,  1996,  repeated  in  Parker  1999). 
The  nearest  population  known  at  present  is  in 
the  highlands  of  Mangochi  and  Namizimu  in 
south-east  Malawi,  which  form  the  western  limit 
of  the  species’  range  (Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett 
2006).  This  area  is  very  rich  in  mistletoes  and 
the  bird  is  very  common  there;  it  may  be  that  its 
scarcity  on  Namuli  is  due  to  the  lower  diversity  and 
abundance  of  mistletoe  species.  Its  close  relative, 
Moustached  Green  Tinkerbird  P.  leucomystax , 
a proven  mistletoe  specialist  (Dowsett-Lemaire 
1988),  reaches  the  southern  limit  of  its  range  on 
Mount  Mulanje,  where  it  is  also  scarce,  being 
confined  to  mid  altitudes  where  several  mistletoe 
species  occur. 

Pallid  Honeyguide  Indicator  meliphilus 
At  Mabu  two  were  found  singing  in  forest  patches 
below  the  tea  house  (450  m),  one  in  an  emergent 
Newtonia  and  the  other  in  Albizia  adianthifolia 


and  Newtonia , only  c.500  m apart.  Also,  one  heard 
singing  in  the  main  forest,  at  c.  1 ,000  m.  Its  closest 
relative,  Willcocks’s  Honeyguide  I.  willcocksi  of 
West-Central  Africa,  also  favours  the  canopy  of 
large  Mimosaceae  for  its  song  posts  (Dowsett- 
Lemaire  2008a). 

Grey  Cuckooshrike  Coracina  caesia 
This  Afromontane  near-endemic  was  discovered 
at  Mabu  in  2008,  a few  pairs  being  located  in 
forest  canopy  at  1,000-1,400  m.  In  southern 
Malawi,  the  species  is  almost  confined  to  Thyolo 
Mountain,  where  it  is  now  virtually  extinct. 
Otherwise  C.  caesia  is  known  in  the  region  only 
from  Mount  Chiperone  (Benson  1950),  70  km 
distant. 

Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  Andropadus 
nigriceps 

This  high-montane  species  reaches  the  southern 
limit  of  its  range  on  the  tallest  massifs  of  south- 
east Malawi  (Zomba  / Malosa  and  Mulanje),  and 
is  very  locally  common  on  Namuli,  but  absent 
from  Mabu.  The  main  population  on  Namuli  is 
to  be  found  in  a dozen  small  patches  on  Muretha 
Plateau,  and  at  the  edges  of  Manho  Forest  at 
1,800-1,900  m (it  is  absent  from  the  interior  of 
Manho);  it  was  not  found  at  Ukalini  or  lower 
down.  On  Muretha  single  pairs  occupied  patches 
of  1.0-1. 5 ha.  These  patches  also  contained  single 
pairs  of  Stripe-cheeked  Greenbul  A.  milanjensis, 
and  the  two  species  appear  to  be  in  competition. 
Males  of  both  Andropadus  occupied  different  song 
posts,  and  seemed  to  engage  in  counter-singing 
and  to  ‘control’  different  sections  of  the  forest 
fragments  {n= 4 patches,  studied  over  a period 
ol  14  hours).  On  the  south-west  Nyika  Plateau 
and  elsewhere  in  Malawi  where  Stripe-cheeked 
Greenbul  is  absent,  the  numbers  of  Mountain 
Greenbul  are  twice  as  high  as  where  its  congener 
also  occurs  (Dowsett-Lemaire  1989). 

Overall,  the  population  of  this  species  must 
be  quite  low.  Proof  of  this  comes  from  the  fact 
that  K.  Cook's  mist-nets  on  Muretha  caught  just 
one  Mountain  Greenbul  but  at  least  nine  Stripe- 
cheeked. Vincent  (1933-36)  had  collected  only 
five  Mountain  Greenbuls  compared  with  2 1 Stripe- 
cheeked, down  to  1,400  m:  this  lower  altitude 
suggests  that  some  had  undertaken  altitudinal 
movements  in  the  cold  months,  as  also  observed 
with  a few  birds  in  Malawi  (Dowsett-Lemaire  & 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -165 


Dowsett  2006).  Stripe-cheeked  Greenbul,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  numerous  on  Namuli,  from  1,250 
m to  1 ,900  m;  it  is  also  common  overall  on  Mabu, 
with  few  at  1,030-1,100  m,  but  becoming  very 
common  higher,  especially  at  1,400-1,650  m. 

Swynnerton’s  Robin  Swynnertonia  swynnertoni 
Vulnerable.  Discovered  at  Mabu  where  this 
montane  robin  occupies  the  higher  levels  of  the 
main  forest  from  1,340-1,400  m to  the  upper 
limits.  Unlike  White-starred  Robin  Pogonocichla 
stellata , the  species  is  not  uniformly  distributed, 
as  it  favours  dense  undergrowth  with  a high 
density  of  saplings  or  rank  growth  near  streams. 
Some  pairs  were  alarm-calling  persistently  (23- 
26  October),  suggesting  breeding  had  started. 
Reacted  well  to  playback  of  its  own  song,  but 
not  to  that  from  eastern  Zimbabwe  (on  Gibbon 
1991),  which  is  similar  in  pattern  but  different  in 
motif.  The  total  population  on  Mabu,  in  r.800  ha 
of  forest,  may  be  100-200  pairs. 

The  nearest  known  populations  are  in 
eastern  Zimbabwe  (Irwin  1981)  and  adjacent 
Mozambique  (including  Gorongosa:  Oatley  & 
Tinley  1989)  and  the  Udzungwa  highlands  of 
central  Tanzania  (Anderson  et  al.  1997),  thus  its 
discovery  on  Mabu  partly  fills  the  gap  between 
the  two  extremes.  Mabu  is  c.350  km  north-east 
of  Gorongosa. 

East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunningi 
Near  Threatened.  An  Eastern  endemic  with  a 
patchy  distribution  horn  coastal  Kenya  to  coastal 
Mozambique,  and  an  inland  population  on  the 
northern  shore  of  Lake  Malawi  and  the  eastern 
scarp  of  the  Viphya  Plateau.  First  discovered  on 
Mabu  by  Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008)  in  2005,  it 
was  locally  common  in  pure  or  mixed  tea  forest 
(under  indigenous  canopy),  dense  understorey 
and  thickets  in  secondary  forest  (400-900  m)  and 
in  the  main  forest  block  up  to  1,350  m,  where 
it  favours  gullies  and  slopes  just  above  streams. 
In  Malawi,  East  Coast  Akalat  and  White-starred 
Robin  are  locally  allopatric  when  breeding,  the 
latter  replacing  the  former  at  higher  altitudes 
(Dowsett-Lemaire  1989).  This  also  seems  to  be 
the  case  on  Mabu  where  White-starred  Robins 
occur  from  and  above  1,350  m.  Territories  can 
be  quite  small  (0. 5-1.0  ha)  but  suitable  habitat  is 
patchy;  hence  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  population 
size,  but  there  may  be  >500  pairs.  The  fairly 


richly  coloured  underparts  and  measurements 
of  the  Mabu  birds  (wing-lengths  of  two  females 
68  and  69  mm,  two  males  74  and  76  mm,  mean 
71.7  mm  compared  to  a mean  of  71.3  mm  from 
nine  birds  in  Malawi:  R.  J.  Dowsett)  suggest  that 
they  are  more  closely  related  to  the  race  bensoni 
of  northern  Lake  Malawi  than  to  coastal  races, 
despite  that  the  nearest  population  to  Mabu, 
belonging  to  the  nominate  race,  is  south  of  the 
Zambezi  near  the  Mozambique  coast  at  c.  18°S 
(Collar  & Stuart  1985,  Parker  2005).  Birds  at 
Mabu  reacted  well  to  playback  of  their  own  song, 
and  also  to  the  slightly  different  dialect  from 
Malawi,  but  not  to  the  dialect  from  coastal  Kenya 
(tested  twice  with  one  bird). 

Fishpool  (2010)  has  since  found  East  Coast 
Akalat  on  Mount  Inago,  45  km  north-east  of 
Namuli  (where  it  is  unknown),  in  forest  patches  at 
1,050-1,450  m,  but  the  area  has  already  suffered 
much  deforestation  as  it  is  widely  cultivated. 
The  akalat  population  of  northern  Malawi  is 
also  locally  threatened  by  deforestation,  as  the 
integrity  of  official  forest  reserves  may  not  be 
respected:  Kalwe  Forest  Reserve  on  the  lakeshore 
has  just  been  cleared  to  build  a hospital  (S. 
Bearder  in  lift.  2009).  The  coastal  forests  of 
southern  Mozambique,  including  around  Dondo, 
are  disappearing  fast  (El.  Chittenden  in  litt.  2005). 
Thus,  the  forest  at  Mabu  is  an  important  refuge 
for  this  species. 

Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis 
Endangered.  This  ant-following  specialist  is  very 
unevenly  distributed  on  Namuli:  it  is  common 
in  Ukalini  (at  1,600-1,750  m),  where  it  reaches 
densities  close  to  the  optimum  of  perhaps  two 
pairs  / 10  ha.  The  foraging  activity  of  army  ants 
was  indeed  high  in  Ukalini.  The  situation  is  very 
different  in  the  cooler  forest  of  Manho,  where 
only  three  pairs  were  located  along  1.5  km  of  trail 
on  the  ‘circuit  route’,  on  each  of  three  different 
days.  I did  not  come  across  any  ant  swarms  in 
Manho.  On  Muretha,  two  patches  (one  of  1.5 
ha)  were  each  occupied  by  a territorial  bird.  At 
lower  altitudes,  at  1,200-1,400  m,  it  must  have 
been  common  in  the  past,  where  the  species  is 
still  found  today,  but  the  habitat  is  almost  gone. 
Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  proposed  an  astonishing  figure 
of  over  1,000  pairs  for  Namuli,  based  on  counts 
along  the  Nanchili  stream  and  in  Ukalini.  This 
figure  appears  seriously  inflated,  and  there  may  be 


166 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


several  reasons  for  this:  inherent  methodological 
problems  (see  below),  the  fact  that  Ryan  et  al. 
made  their  counts  at  low  altitude  (where  there  is 
a problem  of  deforestation,  hence  over-crowding) 
and  in  Ukalini,  while  not  taking  into  account  that 
the  situation  in  the  much  larger  Manho  Forest 
is  very  different.  The  population  on  Namuli 
(excluding  the  plateau  south  of  the  Malema  River, 
which  is  unexplored)  is  probably  <50  pairs. 

Although  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  wrote  that  Cholo 
Alethes  near  the  Nanchili  occasionally  fed  in  ‘dense 
Brachystegia  woodland  outside  of  forest’,  as  there 
is  no  such  woodland  it  is  assumed  they  meant 
the  evergreen  Syzygium  cordatum  formations, 
which  have  a closed  canopy  immediately  next  to 
Newtonia  / Parinari  forest  on  the  Nanchili  {cf  site 
description  above).  This  inaccurate  statement  was 
repeated  by  Collar  (2005).  Cholo  Alethes  are  not 
known  to  enter  woodland  of  any  kind. 

On  Mabu,  fortunately,  Cholo  Alethes  are 
much  more  numerous,  and  the  species  covers 
a wide  altitudinal  range  of  950-1,650  m.  It  is 
common  above  1,200  m,  although  not  evenly 
distributed  below  this  elevation.  The  population 
is  probably  at  least  1 ,000  pairs.  On  Mabu,  alethes 
have  a most  distinctive  contact  call,  a whistle 
rising  in  pitch,  whereas  elsewhere  (Malawi  and 
Namuli)  the  main  contact  call  is  a downward- 
inflected  whistle.  It  was  frequently  heard  at  dawn 
near  the  main  forest  camp. 

Orange  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  gurneyi 
Very  common  on  Namuli,  at  1,580-1,900  m, 
including  Ukalini,  the  whole  of  Manho,  and  even 
in  some  small  patches  on  Muretha.  This  thrush 
readily  reacted  to  playback  of  its  own  song,  but 
also  to  the  ‘long  song’  of  Spotted  Ground  Thrush 
from  Thyolo  (obtained  by  E.  Herrmann),  which 
is  indeed  inseparable  from  that  of  its  own  species. 
Apparently  absent  from  Mabu:  repeated  playback 
of  Orange  Ground  Thrush  elicited  no  reaction,  at 
a time  when  the  species  (if  present)  would  have 
been  very  vocal. 

Spotted  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  guttata 
Endangered.  Previously  known  from  Mozambique 
from  only  two  recent  records  on  the  coast  near 
Maputo  (Parker  2005:  310),  where  the  species 
is  presumably  a non-breeding  visitor.  The  few 
breeding  localities  known  are  in  mid-altitude 
forest  (e.g.  in  southern  Malawi,  and  at  Ngoye 


in  Natal)  and  in  the  temperate  forests  of  the 
Eastern  Cape  (H.  Chittenden  in  Hockey  et  al. 
2005).  Rare  in  its  tropical  range  (the  breeding 
locations  of  birds  spending  the  non-breeding 
season  on  the  Kenyan  coast  are  still  unknown!) 
but  common  locally  in  eastern  South  Africa. 
Discovered  on  Namuli  in  November  2007,  based 
on  one  seen  in  Ukalini  Forest,  and  a three-note 
song  tape-recorded  in  Manho  on  18  November, 
at  1,720  m.  This  song  is  well  known  to  local 
hunters  as  belonging  to  the  ‘bird  with  spots’,  and 
is  indeed  similar  to  the  ‘short  song’  produced  by 
this  species  in  Natal,  or  in  Malawi  (Lisau:  pers. 
obs.).  The  scarcity  ol  this  thrush  on  Namuli 
could  be  explained  by  competition  with  Orange 
Ground  Thrush,  as  is  also  possibly  the  case  in 
southern  Malawi.  However,  no  such  explanation 
can  be  given  to  explain  a similar  sratus  on  Mabu: 
a Zoothera  ‘long  song’  was  heard  just  after  the 
first  rains,  at  two  locations,  at  1,000  m (28 
October)  and  at  1,300  m (27  October).  A local 
hunter  familiar  with  several  bird  species  identified 
Spotted  Ground  Thrush  using  Chittenden  (2007) 
without  hesitation,  and  also  indicated  that  Orange 
Ground  Thrush  was  unknown  to  him;  he  readily 
identified  Cholo  Alethe  on  the  same  plate  as 
being  common.  Some  ol  the  local  people  appear 
to  possess  an  outstanding  knowledge  of  birds:  all 
four  hunters  interviewed  at  Namuli  knew  both 
Orange  and  Spotted  Ground  Thrush;  one  hunter 
at  Namuli  identified  without  prompting  all  four 
species  of  apalis  present  on  the  plates  of  the  field 
guide.  Jali  Makawa,  Benson’s  gifted  collector, 
came  from  this  part  of  Mozambique. 

The  discovery  of  this  species  on  Namuli  and 
Mabu  in  the  breeding  season  is  the  first  indication 
that  the  species  breeds  in  the  mountains  of 
Mozambique. 

Olive  Thrush  Turdus  olivaceus 
Like  Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul,  this  is  another 
high-montane  species  in  this  part  of  Africa 
(Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006),  and  is 
apparently  absent  from  Mabu,  and  very  local  on 
Namuli.  It  seems  to  be  confined  to  some  of  the 
small  patches  on  Muretha:  in  addition  to  a pair 
collected  by  K.  Cook,  I located  just  one  other  pair, 
and  one  unmated  male  which  sang  at  all  hours 
of  the  day.  However,  a few  more  distant  patches 
on  Muretha  and  above  Ukalini  were  not  visited. 
The  unmated  bird  occupied  two  adjacent  patches 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -167 


totalling  just  under  3 Ha;  it  frequently  imitated  the 
song  of  Namuli  Apalis  and  the  territorial  calls  of 
Red-chested  Flufftail  in  its  song  (tape-recorded). 
The  second  male  also  imitated  the  apalis.  The 
fact  that  the  unmated  male  failed  to  attract  a 
female  for  the  duration  of  our  stay,  at  the  height 
of  the  breeding  season,  suggests  a lack  of  surplus 
individuals.  Vincent  (1933-36)  took  only  one 
specimen,  so  the  species  was  probably  always 
rather  scarce. 

Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  {thoracic a)  lynesi 
Near  Threatened.  A.  {t.)  lynesi  forms  part  of  the 
Bar-throated  Apalis  A.  thoracica  complex,  which 
has  radiated  into  many  different  races  in  montane 
eastern  Africa.  It  is  most  closely  related  to  the 
yellow-bellied  race  {A.  t.  flavigularis ) of  Zomba 
and  the  Mulanje  Mountains  in  adjacent  Malawi 
(Fig.  6).  At  Namuli,  lynesi  is  very  common  in 
forest  and  tall  shrubland  from  1,270-1,300  m 
to  at  least  1,900  m.  Some  territories  measured 
on  Muretha  can  be  as  small  as  0. 3-0.6  ha 
(forest  plus  some  bracken  scrub),  but  in  three 
patches  of  1.0-1. 5 ha  there  was  still  just  one 
pair.  Densities  in  continuous  forest  are  probably 
around  five  pairs/ 10  ha,  and  the  population  must 
comprise  at  least  600-700  pairs,  in  1,200-1,400 
ha  of  forest,  and  probably  more,  as  the  species  also 
occupies  narrow  riparian  strips  and  scrub  forest 
not  included  in  this  calculation.  However,  the 
figure  of  a minimum  of  5,000  pairs  advanced  by 
Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  appears  excessive,  and  the  size 
of  some  territories  given  (0.02  ha)  unrealistically 
small.  The  smallest-ever  occupied  territories  on 
the  Nyika  (by  Bar-throated  Apalis)  studied  with 
colour-ringed  birds  over  three  years  are  still  7-10 
times  larger  than  this  (Dowsett-Lemaire  1983), 
and  the  Namuli  Apalises  of  Muretha  appear  more 
widely  spaced  than  their  relatives  on  the  Nyika. 

Territorial  limits  were  confirmed  by  using 
playback  of  a pre-recorded  tape  from  the  Nyika 
Plateau  (race  A.  t.youngi).  Pairs  of  Namuli  Apalis 
reacted  strongly  to  the  Nyika  tape,  coming  to 
within  1-2  m of  the  recorder,  bill-snapping  and 
wing-clapping.  The  voice  of  the  male  sounds 
identical  between  youngi  and  lynesi , but  female 
Namuli  Apalis  gives  a faster  titititititi,  similar  to 
of  A.  t.  flavigularis  from  Mulanje.  One  pair  was 
feeding  young  in  a nest  sited  in  a bush  on  the  edge 
of  forest  (23  November). 


At  Mabu  the  species  is  very  rare  and  was  found 
only  above  1,380-1,400  m:  just  one  male  was 
heard  in  forest  below  the  summit  {c.  1,550  m), 
and  two  males  in  forest  above  the  second  satellite 
camp  (c.  1,400  m),  the  more  distant  of  which 
appeared  to  be  paired  (female  heard).  Playback 
at  the  upper  edges  of  forest  below  the  summit 
elicited  no  response.  Neither  of  the  unmated 
birds  seemed  interested  in  playback;  one  male 
that  was  followed  for  >1  hour  on  26-27  October 
circulated  over  several  hectares  of  forest  with 
many  gaps,  feeding  at  edges  but  also  in  the  shaded 
interior  1-3  m above  the  ground.  The  uneven 
sex  ratio  suggests  that  conditions  are  suboptimal 
for  the  species.  Forms  of  Bar-throated  Apalis 
are  usually  very  common  in  montane  forest,  but 
locally  in  northern  Malawi  (as  in  the  Misuku 
Hills)  the  species  can  be  uncommon,  especially  at 
mid  altitudes  (Dowsett-Lemaire  1989).  Possibly 
a warm  microclimate,  combined  with  a tall 
forest  canopy,  is  not  favourable  for  this  montane 
apalis,  which  prefers  low-canopy  forest  and  rich 
shrubland.  The  population  at  Mabu  must  be  very 
small,  with  perhaps  only  a few  dozen  pairs. 

White-winged  Apalis  Apalis  chariessa 
Vulnerable.  A male  was  seen  in  riparian  forest  on 
the  Nanchili  at  1,200  m,  within  a small  mixed- 
species  party,  on  27  November  2007.  This  species 
avoids  wetter  types  of  mid-altitude  forest,  as  in 
adjacent  Malawi  it  prefers  edges  and  secondary 
Albizia  forest  in  the  Shire  Highlands  to  the  wetter 
Newtonia  forests  on  Mount  Mulanje  (where 
veiy  rare,  1,000-1,300  m:  Dowsett-Lemaire  & 
Dowsett  2006).  This  Eastern  endemic,  known 
otherwise  mainly  from  mid-altitude  forest  in 
central  Tanzania  (Stuart  & Jensen  1985,  1987), 
reaches  the  southern  limit  of  its  range  on  Mount 
Chiperone  (Benson  1950,  Spottiswoode  et  al. 
2008).  It  must  be  very  rare  on  Namuli  (perhaps 
too  wet),  and  should  be  searched  for  in  what  is 
left  of  the  riparian  forest  on  the  drier  side  of  the 
mountain.  However,  given  the  rapid  destruction  of 
this  habitat  the  species  is  in  danger  ol  extirpation. 
It  was  not  found  on  Mabu. 

Playback  often  elicited  vocal  reactions  from 
Black-headed  Apalis  A.  melanocephala , which  is 
common  on  both  Mabu  and  Namuli.  This  may  be 
the  result  ol  the  superficial  resemblance  between 
the  piping  motifs  of  these  apalises,  or  due  to 
some  form  ol  competition  between  these  two 


1 68  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


canopy  species.  As  reactions  were  obtained  even 
in  Manho,  where  White-winged  is  veiy  unlikely  to 
occur,  the  first  hypothesis  is  preferred. 

Dapple-throat  Modulatrix  orostruthus 
Vulnerable.  At  Namuli  confined  to  forest  above 

l, 500  or  1,600  m,  up  to  1,870  m in  Ukalini 
and  Manho;  one  pair  occupied  two  adjacent 
patches  on  Muretha  totalling  2.5  ha.  Nothing 
has  been  published  on  feeding  behaviour  (Keith 
et  al.  1992):  individuals  were  seen  feeding  on  the 
ground,  hopping  and  turning  leaves  like  a thrush. 
Sings  low  down,  on  small  saplings,  fallen  logs  or 
just  a hump  on  the  ground.  The  alarm-call  is  a 
striking  modulated  whistle,  also  given  at  the  end 
ol  songs  by  birds  counter-singing  with  neighbours 
or  reacting  to  playback.  Individuals  possess  at  least 
2-3  song  types  (tape-recorded);  the  Tanzanian 
populations  produce  slightly  different  motifs 
(as  on  a tape  from  the  Udzungwas,  provided 
by  C.  Carter),  as  is  to  be  expected  of  distant 
populations.  The  timbre  and  style  of  song  are 
strongly  reminiscent  of  the  melodious  song  of 
another  montane  babbler,  Grey-chested  Illadopsis 
Kakamega  poliothorax,  a remark  also  made  by 
B.  Finch  in  Stevenson  & Fanshawe  (2002). 
The  species  does  not  occupy  the  whole  forest 
as  it  is  partial  to  areas  with  high  densities  of 
saplings  under  a fairly  closed  canopy;  it  seems  to 
avoid  Mimulopsis  or  other  Acanthaceae  thickets 
(unlike  Spot-throat  M.  stictigula  elsewhere,  as  in 
the  Misuku  Hills  of  northern  Malawi,  Dowsett- 
Lemaire  1989).  The  population  in  Manho  and 
Ukalini  could  be  300-500  pairs,  based  on  an 
estimate  of  3-5  pairs  / 10  ha.  Ryan  et  al.' s (1999a) 
estimate  of  low  thousands’  appears  too  high, 
ignoring  the  fact  that  distribution  is  not  uniform 
in  the  large  Manho  Forest. 

Its  discovery  on  Mabu  in  2008  represents  a 
small  range  extension,  but  the  species  is  rare  and 
local,  above  1,380  m.  One  tape-recorded  near  the 
path  to  the  summit  at  c.  1,500  m seemed  strongly 
territorial,  while  another  sang  that  briefly  near 
our  camp  (1,400  m)  was  presumably  a wanderer. 
Only  rwo  territorial  birds  were  found  above  the 
second  satellite  camp,  just  below  and  at  1,400 

m.  One  of  these  was  followed  for  several  hours 
on  26-27  October,  circulating  over  at  least  5-6 
ha,  and  was  apparently  paired.  The  bird’s  scarcity 
at  Mabu  is  difficult  to  explain.  It  may  be  related, 


in  part,  to  the  disturbance  of  the  canopy  and 
unsuitable  tangled  understorey:  this  is  striking 
around  the  second  satellite  camp  and  is  the  result 
of  temporary  human  habitations  used  during 
the  civil  war.  As  with  Namuli  Apalis,  the  overall 
population  could  be  quite  small:  a few  dozen 
pairs,  perhaps  up  to  100,  but  further  surveys  are 
necessary  to  verify  this. 

Green-headed  Oriole  Oriolus  chlorocephalus 
Fairly  common  at  Mabu  in  the  canopy  and 
subcanopy  at  980-1,300  m,  once  at  1,400  m. 
A wanderer  in  riparian  forest  was  at  450  m;  the 
following  day  it  was  at  c.400  m.  The  population  of 
this  localised  Eastern  endemic  must  be  important 
at  Mabu,  which  is  reassuring  given  that  part  of 
the  small  Malawi  population  was  exterminated 
through  the  deforestation  of  Thyolo  Mountain.  It 
also  occurs  on  Mount  Chiperone  (Benson  1950, 
Spottiswoode  et  al.  2008). 

Bertram’s  Weaver  Ploceus  bertrandi 
Very  small  numbers  of  this  forest-edge  species 
were  found  on  Namuli  in  2007  (Demey  2007; 
pers.  obs.),  including  a pair  at  1,580  m near  a 
nest  from  rhe  previous  year  (suspended  from 
the  frond  of  a Cyathea  tree  fern  at  a height  of 
2.5  m).  One  pair  was  seen  by  C.  Spottiswoode 
{in  litt.  2009)  at  920  m at  the  ecotone  of  forest 
and  Syzygium  woodland  at  Mabu.  This  montane 
endemic  reaches  the  southern  limit  of  its  range  on 
Chiperone. 

Green  Twinspot  Mandingoa  nitidula 
Very  common  at  Mabu  in  forest  and  second 
growth  at  400-1,550  m.  Scarce  in  most  parts 
of  its  range,  it  is  exceptionally  numerous  here 
with  hundreds  seen  in  a day  near  the  tea  house, 
including  many  pairs  and  families  coming  to 
drink  in  a small  stream.  Outside  or  on  the  edge  of 
forest  it  seemed  to  feed  mainly  on  a small-seeded 
Panicum.  Inside  forest  it  was  found  more  at  high 
levels  or  in  clearings,  feeding  on  inflorescences 
and  small  seeds  of  creepers.  The  species  is  also 
locally  common  in  southern  Malawi,  as  in  the 
Shire  Highlands  and  on  Mulanje,  where  it  occurs 
to  1,550  m on  the  drier  slopes.  The  reason  why 
it  should  become  so  scarce  further  west,  as  in 
Zambia  (Dowsett  et  al.  2008),  is  unknown. 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -169 


Breeding  activity 

Over  50  breeding  records  were  obtained  on 
Namuli  in  November  2007,  for  20  species.  Details 
of  these  and  earlier  records  can  be  found  in 
Dowsett-Lemaire  (2008b).  The  breeding  season 
was  much  less  advanced  at  Mabu  in  October,  but 
several  species  had  started  to  lay  or  were  feeding 
young  (see  Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  2009). 

Bird  densities  at  Namuli 

Territory  sizes  of  forest  birds  are  easier  to  measure 
in  fragmented  forest,  and  this  was  done  on 
Muretha  Plateau:  territory  boundaries  were 
measured  in  three  patches  (of  1.0,  1.4  and  1.5 
ha)  over  a period  of  12  hours  on  two  mornings, 
and  additional  information  on  selected  species 
was  obtained  in  a few  other  patches  (0.5-1. 5 
ha).  Birds  were  very  active  in  the  early  morning 
and  counter-singing  between  neighbouring  pairs 
was  frequent.  Playback  was  used  in  some  cases  to 
confirm  territorial  boundaries,  and  the  results  are 
shown  in  Table  1. 

These  figures  compare  well  with  those  from 
a three-year  study  of  a large  sample  of  birds  of 
the  same  or  closely  related  species  on  the  Nyika 
Plateau,  where  most  passerines  were  colour-ringed 
and  individually  recognisable  (Dowsett-Lemaire 
1983).  Territory  sizes  of  Bar-throated  Apalis 
can  be  smaller  (with  usually  two  pairs  / ha)  and 
densities  of  Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  on  the 
Nyika  are  twice  as  high,  but  this  is  in  the  absence 
of  its  competitor  the  Stripe-cheeked  (see  above). 


Table  1.  Territory  sizes  of  14  bird  species  measured  in  small  patches 
(0.5,  or  0.7  ha  with  bracken  scrub,  to  1.5  ha)  on  the  Muretha  Plateau. 

Tableau  1.  Dimension  des  territoires  de  14  especes  mesuree 
dans  des  petites  forets  (0.5,  ou  0.7  ha  avec  broussailles 
adjacentes,  et  jusqu’a  1,5  ha)  sur  le  Plateau  de  Muretha. 


Species 

Territory  size  Sample 

Livingstone's  Turaco  Tauraco  livingstonii 

4-5  ha 

2 pairs 

Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  Andropadus  nigriceps 

1.0-1 .5  ha 

4 pairs 

Stripe-cheeked  Greenbul  Andropadus  milanjensis 

1.0-1. 5 ha 

4 pairs 

Cabanis’s  Greenbul  Phyiiastrephus  cabanisi 

1.0-1. 5 ha 

4 pairs 

White-starred  Robin  Pogonocichla  stellata 

0.7-1. 0 ha 

5 pairs 

Olive-flanked  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  anomala 

1.0-1 .5  ha 

4 pairs 

Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis 

1.5  ha 

1 unmated  bird 

Olive  Thrush  Turdus  olivaceus 

2.9  ha 

1 unmated  bird 

Evergreen  Forest  Warbler  Bradypterus  iopezi 

0.7-1. 5 ha 

4 pairs 

Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  (thoracica)  lynesi 

0.7-1 .5  ha 

4 pairs 

Black-headed  Apalis  Apalis  melanocephala 

1.0-1 .5  ha 

3 pairs 

Cape  (Malawi)  Batis  Batis  capensis  dimorpha 

0.7-1 .0  ha 

5 pairs 

White-tailed  Crested  Flycatcher  Elminia  albonotata 

1.0-1 .5  ha 

3 pairs 

Dapple-throat  Modulatrix  orostruthus 

2.5  ha 

1 pair 

Otherwise,  figures  for  other  passerines  are  very 
similar.  For  Schalow’s  Turaco  Tauraco  schalowi , 
a close  relative  of  Livingstone’s  T.  livingstonii,  the 
mean  territory  size  is  4 ha,  as  39  pairs  were  known 
to  occupy  43  forest  patches  totalling  1 57  ha.  What 
the  Nyika  study  also  showed  is  that,  for  most 
species,  territory  sizes  are  smaller  in  fragmented 
forest  than  in  larger  blocks,  due  to  the  edge  effect 
or  inherent  aggressive  behaviour.  Thus,  it  would 
be  wrong  to  transfer  the  densities  observed  on 
Muretha  to  the  larger  Ukalini  and  Manho  Forests. 
Even  if  pairs  of  Namuli  Apalises  can  occupy  some 
patches  as  small  as  0. 5-0.7  ha,  they  will  not 
tolerate  a neighbouring  pair  in  patches  of  up  to 
1.5  ha,  and  it  is  unlikely  that  there  would  be  more 
than  one  pair  in  2 ha  of  continuous  forest.  Apalises 
spend  much  time  feeding  at  sunny  edges,  as  do 
flycatchers  (Cape  Batis  Batis  capensis  etc.)  and 
space  themselves  more  in  larger  blocks  of  forest. 
While  White-chested  Alethes  Alethe  fuelleborni  on 
the  Nyika  can  breed  in  a patch  as  small  as  0. 5-1.0 
ha,  when  an  ant  colony  moves  in  the  overall 
densities  are  low,  e.g.  two  pairs  in  8-10  ha  forest 
blocks,  and  a 25-ha  portion  of  Chowo  Forest 
contained  5-6  pairs.  (Incidentally  Collar  (2005) 
wrote  that  Cholo  Alethe  could  persist  in  a 'patch 
as  small  as  0.5  ha  so  long  as  ant  nest  present’,  but 
there  was  confusion  over  the  species  involved  as 
this  was  never  claimed  for  Cholo,  but  for  White- 
chested Alethe:  Dowsett-Lemaire  1989). 

Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  counted  birds  at  72  points 
for  five  minutes  each  and  estimated  the  distance 
at  which  the  birds  had  been  seen  or  heard  (under 
or  over  20  m).  They  did  this  near  the  Nanchili 
stream  and  in  Ukalini  Forest.  The  ‘two  counting 
band’  method  of  Bibby  et  al.  (1992)  was  then  used 
to  produce  actual  densities.  The  limitations  and 
assumptions  of  the  method  were  not  discussed 
by  Bibby  et  al.  (1992).  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a:  321) 
produced  a table  of  densities  for  the  commoner 
18  species.  Surprisingly,  Olive-flanked  Robin 
Chat  Cossypha  anomala,  one  of  the  noisiest  and 
commonest  birds  on  Namuli  (including  Ukalini), 
is  not  listed.  Figures  for  common  small  passerines 
are  of  the  order  of  5-10  birds  or  pairs  per  ha  (e.g. 
12.6  in  Namuli  Apalis,  10.6  in  Stripe-cheeked 
Greenbul,  9.7  in  White-tailed  Crested  Flycatcher 
Elminia  albonotata , 8.6  in  Cholo  Alethe,  8.4 
in  White-starred  Robin,  2.4  in  Dapple-throat 
etc.).  Even  for  a large  non-passerine  such  as 


1 70  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Livingstone  s 1 uraco,  they  produced  as  many  as 
5.6  birds  or  pairs  / ha. 

Compared  to  territory  sizes  measured  on 
Muretha  and  in  the  Nyika  study,  these  figures 
are  5-30  times  higher,  depending  on  the  species. 
This  suggests  an  inherent  problem  with  the 
methodology,  evaluation  of  distances  and  also 
probably  with  the  formula  used.  This  shows  the 
danger  of  relying  on  complicated  calculations  in 
the  absence  of  control  against  actual  figures,  and 
led  the  authors  to  propose  unrealistic  figures  of 
overall  numbers  of  threatened  species,  e.g.  Cholo 
Alethe  {cf  species  account). 

Biogeographical  considerations 

Table  2 shows  the  known  distribution  of 
Alromontane  bird  species  and  selected  Eastern 
endemics  on  the  five  main  massifs  of  the  region, 
from  north  to  south,  i.e.  Namuli  to  Chiperone. 
Thyolo  Mountain  has  been  included,  despite 
recent  deforestation,  because  it  had  a unique 
biogeographical  and  conservation  value  for  several 
threatened  species:  the  forest  covered  c.  1 ,000  ha  (in 
one  block)  at  1,160-1,462  m until  the  mid  1990s. 
Most  records  for  Mount  Chiperone  come  from 
Benson  (1950)  and  are  based  on  a brief  collecting 
expedition  by  J.  Makawa  in  July  1950,  the  rest 
from  Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008).  The  mention  of 
Cabanis’s  Greenbul  (race  placidus)  comes  from  a 
specimen  collected  by  J.  Makawa  (W.  R.  J.  Dean 
& R.  Prys-Jones  in  lift.  2009)  but  missed  from  the 
1950  publication.  Chorographical  status  follows 
Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  (2006). 

The  largest  and  tallest  massif,  Mulanje,  has  the 
highest  number  of  Afromontane  species,  3 1 (if  one 
includes  the  sub-Afromontane  Spotted  Ground 
Thrush),  and  Namuli  comes  a close  second, 
with  27  species.  Only  one  species  from  Namuli 
(Dapple-throat)  is  missing  from  Mulanje,  and 
Namuli  Apalis  is  replaced  by  the  flavigularis  race  of 
Bar-throated;  similarly,  the  montane  Moustached 
Green  Tinkerbird  on  Mulanje  is  replaced  by 
the  closely  related  Eastern  Green  Tinkerbird  on 
Namuli.  Olive  Bushshrike  Malaconotus  olivaceus 
extends  from  southern  Africa  north  to  Mulanje, 
Zomba  and  the  Kirk  Range  (Dowsett-Lemaire 
& Dowsett  2006)  but  does  not  reach  Namuli. 
The  absence  from  Namuli  of  the  remaining  three 
species  can  be  explained  in  terms  of  habitat. 
Striped  Flufftail  is  almost  certainly  absent  because 


Table  2.  Afromontane  (near-)endemic  and  selected  Eastern 
endemic  bird  species  present  on  Namuli,  Mulanje,  Thyolo,  Mabu 
and  Chiperone  Mountains.  Most  are  forest  birds,  but  NF  (not 
forest)  after  the  species  name  indicates  that  the  habitat  consists 
of  grassland,  rocks,  montane  shrubland  or  forest  edges. 

Tableau  2.  Distribution  des  especes  Afromontagnardes  (endemiques 
ou  presque)  et  de  certaines  especes  Orientales  dans  les  massifs 
de  Namuli,  Mulanje,  Thyolo,  Mabu  et  Chiperone.  La  plupart  des 
especes  sont  en  foret,  mais  NF  (pas  en  foret)  apres  le  nom 
de  I'espece  se  refere  a des  milieux  ouverts,  prairies  et  milieux 
arbustifs  de  montagne,  zones  rocheuses  et  lisieres  forestieres. 


Afromontane  species 

Striped  Flufftail  Sarothrura  rufa  (NF) 

Rameron  Pigeon  Cotumba  arquatrix 
Lemon  Dove  Aplopelia  larvata 
Cape  Eagle  Owl  Bubo  capensis  (NF) 

Scarce  Swift  Schoutedenapus  myoptilus 
Bar-tailed  Trogon  Apaloderma  vittatum 
Moustached  Green  Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus  leucomystax 
Blue  Swallow  Hirundo  atrocaerulea  (NF) 

Grey  Cuckooshrike  Coracina  caesia 
Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  Andropadus  nigriceps 
Stripe-cheeked  Greenbul  Andropadus  milanjensis 
Cabanis’s  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  cabanisi 
White-starred  Robin  Pogonocichla  stellata 
Swynnerton's  Robin  Swynnertonia  swynnertoni 
Olive-flanked  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  anomala 
Cape  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  caffra  (NF) 

Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis 
Olive  Thrush  Turdus  olivaceus 
Orange  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  gumeyi 
Cinnamon  Bracken  Warbler 
Bradypterus  cinnamomeus  (NF) 

Evergreen  Forest  Warbler  Bradypterus  lopezi 
Yellow-throated  Warbler  Phylloscopus  ruficapilla 
Wailing  Cisticola  Cisticola  lais  (NF) 

Bar-throated  Apalis  Apalis  thoracica 
Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  ( thoracica ) lynesi 
Cape  (Malawi)  Batis  Batis  capensis  dimorpha 
White-tailed  Crested  Flycatcher  Elminia  albonotata 
Dapple-throat  Modulatrix  orostruthus 
Eastern  Double-collared  Sunbird  Cinnyris  mediocris 
Olive  Bushshrike  Malaconotus  olivaceus 
Bertram's  Weaver  Ploceus  bertrandi  (NF) 

Red-faced  Crimsonwing  Cryptospiza  reichenovii 
Swee  Waxbill  Estrilda  melanotis  (NF) 

African  Citril  Serinus  citrinelloides  (NF) 

Sub-Afromontane  species 

Spotted  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  guttata 

Selected  Eastern  species 

Southern  Banded  Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  fasciolatus 

White-eared  Barbet  Stactolaema  leucotis 

Green  Barbet  Stactolaema  olivacea 

Eastern  Green  Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus  simplex 

East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunningi 

White-winged  Apalis  Apalis  charlessa 

Green-headed  Oriole  Oriolus  chlorocephalus 


lx--- 

X X X X X 

X X X X X 

XX--- 
X X X - - 

X X X X X 

- X - - ? 

- X - - - 

- - X X X 

XX--- 
X X X X X 

X X X X X 

X X X X X 

- - - X - 

X X - - X 

XX-X- 
X X X X X 

X X X - X 

X X X - X 

- X - - - 


X X X - X 
X X X X X 
XX-X- 
-X--- 
X--X- 
X X X X X 
X X X - X 
X-  — X- 
X X - - X 
- X - - - 
X X X X X 
X X X - X 
X X X X X 
X X X - X 


X X X X - 


XXX 
X - X 

X - - 


X - 
X X 
X - 
- ? 


- - - X - 


X X X - X 

- - X X X 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -171 


of  the  nature  of  the  grassland.  Similarly  there  is 
apparently  no  suitable  habitat  for  Blue  Swallow 
Hirundo  atrocaendea : the  rocky  or  peaty  nature  of 
the  soils  means  that  rain  water  immediately  runs 
off  and  fills  every  ditch,  thus  depriving  the  bird  of 
safe  nest  sites  in  the  form  of  dry  stream  banks  and 
overhangs.  An  isolated  population  of  Cinnamon 
Bracken  Warbler  Bradypterus  cinnamomeus 
occurs  in  Mulanje’s  extensive  shrublands.  On 
Namuli  second  growth  is  much  less  extensive  and 
considerably  impoverished  floristically:  thus,  this 
habitat  is  occupied  by  its  congener,  Evergreen 
Forest  Warbler  B.  lopezi.  Many  pairs  were  found 
to  extend  their  territories  from  forest  into  adjacent 
bracken  and  scrub,  an  example  of  niche  expansion 
in  the  absence  of  competition. 

The  total  number  of  Afromontane  birds  on 
Mabu  currently  known  is  18  species,  and  the 
lower  total  is  to  be  expected  as  there  is  hardly  any 
montane  grassland  or  shrubland  (hence  species 
like  Blue  Swallow  cannot  occur)  and  the  areas 
covered  by  Afromontane  forest  (as  opposed  to 
mid-altitude  forest)  are  relatively  small.  A few 
high-altitude  montane  forest  birds  appear  to  be 
absent  (e.g.  Olive-flanked  Robin  Chat,  White- 
tailed Crested  Flycatcher,  Eastern  Double-collared 
Sunbird  Cinnyris  mediocris ).  The  absence  of 
Evergreen  Forest  Warbler  is  more  surprising  as 
it  is  common  in  mid-altitude  forest  in  south-east 
Malawi  and  reaches  Mount  Chiperone.  In  other 
parts  of  Malawi,  however,  it  can  be  rare  in  this 
forest  type  (e.g.  at  Ntchisi).  Even  more  surprising 
is  the  apparent  absence  of  Orange  Thrush,  as 
this  species  is  common  in  mid-altitude  forest 
elsewhere  in  the  region.  It  is  possible  that  further 
exploration  of  the  high-altitude  sections  of  the 
forest  will  reveal  the  presence  of  some  additional, 
discreet  Afromontane  species  such  as  Red-faced 
Crimsonwing  Cryptospiza  reichenoviv,  the  intra- 
African  migrant  Scarce  Swift  could  have  been 
missed  for  other  reasons  (see  species  account). 

Within  the  Tanzania-Malawi  group 
Afromontane  avifaunas  are  characterised  by  a 
general  impoverishment  from  north  to  south 
(Dowsett-Lemaire  1989:  56,  80).  Seven  species 
reach  the  southern  limits  of  their  ranges  within 
this  region,  all  on  Mount  Chiperone  (Bar- 
tailed Trogon  Apaloderma  vittatum , Cabanis’s 
Greenbul,  Olive-flanked  Robin  Chat,  Evergreen 
Forest  Warbler,  Eastern  Double-collared 


Sunbird,  Bertram’s  Weaver  and  African  Citril 
Serinus  citrinelloides ) as  well  as  the  race  dimorpha 
of  Cape  Batis,  considered  by  some  a separate 
species.  Cholo  Alethe,  endemic  to  the  region,  also 
reaches  Mount  Chiperone.  Moustached  Green 
Tinkerbird  may  not  reach  any  further  south  than 
Mulanje,  but  an  unidentified  green  tinkerbird 
(subgenus  Viridibucco)  was  reported  by  Makawa 
from  Mount  Chiperone  (Benson  1950).  In  any 
case  Mulanje  represents  the  southern  limit  for 
Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  and  Cinnamon 
Bracken  Warbler,  while  Dapple-throat,  which 
‘skips'  Malawi  altogether,  reaches  Mabu,  a small 
extension  of  range  from  Namuli. 

A small  cluster  of  species  (Afromontane  or 
Eastern  or  otherwise)  are  shared  between  Thyolo, 
Mabu  and  Chiperone:  Eastern  Bronze-naped 
Pigeon,  Grey  Cuckooshrike  and  Green-headed 
Oriole.  They  all  reappear  on  Mount  Gorongosa, 
r.300-350  km  to  the  south-west  (Oatley  & 
Tinley  1989).  Mount  Chiperone  remains  under- 
explored, especially  the  higher  levels  not  reached 
by  Spottiswoode  et  al.  (2008):  in  addition  to 
identifying  the  green  tinkerbird,  a form  of  Bar- 
throated  Apalis  (the  yellow-bellied  race  of  Mulanje 
or  Namuli  Apalis)  should  be  sought  in  the 
Afromontane  forest  there. 

The  presence  of  East  Coast  Akalat  at 
Mabu  (up  to  1,350  m)  suggests  that  the  local 
microclimate  is  fairly  warm.  The  distribution  of 
some  lowland  forest  species  on  Mabu  also  supports 
this  assumption:  Eastern  Nicator  Nicator  gidar is, 
Red-capped  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  natalensis  and 
Blue-mantled  Flycatcher  Trochocercus  cyanomelas 
all  reach  1 ,400  m,  whereas  on  the  wet,  southern 
slopes  of  Mulanje  they  do  not  ascend  above 
800-950  m.  On  Namuli  the  nicator  does  not 
ascend  above  1,160  m (J.  Graham  in  lift.  2008; 
the  qualification  of  this  bulbul  as  being  common 
around  1,250  m in  Ryan  et  al.  1999b  was  in  error), 
while  Red-capped  Robin  Chat  reaches  1,200  m 
and  the  flycatcher  has  not  been  recorded  (if  it 
occurs,  it  would  be  below  1,150  m).  Similarly, 
the  warm  microclimate  of  Mabu  could  explain 
the  scarcity  of  montane  species  such  as  Namuli 
Apalis  and  Dapple-throat,  whereas  on  Namuli 
the  apalis  is  already  very  common  at  1,400-1,600 
m.  Even  Cape  Batis  (with  scattered  pairs  above 
1,350-1,400  m)  is  much  less  common  at  Mabu 
than  on  Namuli  at  a similar  altitude. 


172  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


The  conservation  status  of  the  Namuli  and 
Mabu  forests 

Namuli 

Forest  on  the  lower  slopes  of  Mount  Namuli 
has  been  reduced  by  fires  and  localised  logging 
for  decades.  Vincent  (1933)  mentioned  iron 
smelting  as  an  important  activity  in  the  area, 
which  would  also  have  caused  some  forest  losses. 
The  hunting  of  mammals  throughout  the  massif 
has  been  so  intense  that  Bushpigs  Potamochoerus 
porcus  (common  in  Vincent’s  days)  have  totally 
disappeared,  to  be  replaced  by  domestic  pigs.  No 
Klipspringer  Oreotragus  oreotragus  or  even  Rock 
Hyrax  Procavia  capensis  are  to  be  seen  anywhere 
on  the  granitic  domes,  which  are  occupied  instead 
by  domestic  goats.  In  1932  Vincent’s  base  camp  at 
1,400  m was  adjacent  to  ‘high  forest’  or  ‘primeval 
forest’,  where  such  species  as  Bar-tailed  Trogon 
and  Green  Barbet  were  collected;  these  could  not 
survive  in  the  narrow  riparian  strips  left  today. 
The  lower  limit  of  dense  forest  now  is  nearer 
1,600  m.  Aerial  photos  taken  in  1969  show  that 
mid-altitude  forest  had  already  been  reduced  to 
broad  riparian  strips.  By  2007  numerous  signs  of 
deforestation  were  visible  far  from  the  streams, 
in  the  form  of  Harungana  forest  regrowth,  or 
scattered  forest  trees  dying  amid  old  fields. 
Pressure  on  land  from  human  settlements  around 
the  foothills  is  increasing,  and  shifting  cultivation 
at  1,200-1,300  m has  in  places  reached  the  very 
edge  of  the  Nanchili  and  Malema  streams,  causing 
erosion.  Ryan  et  al.  (1999a)  reported  that  there 
was  no  forest  encroachment  above  1,500  m in 
1998,  but  this  is  no  longer  true.  A 5-ha  fragment 
of  forest  in  Ukalini  has  been  cleared  at  1,580  m, 
and  there  is  a considerable  problem  of  timber 
extraction  for  planks  (of  Faurea  wentzeliana)  in 
both  Ukalini  and  Manho  Forests.  In  Ukalini, 
the  number  of  felled  Faurea  is  particularly  high 
and  clearly  unsustainable,  creating  many  gaps  in 
the  canopy.  In  Manho,  two  small  areas  of  forest 
at  1,700  m or  just  above  were  also  clear-felled  in 
2007  to  plant  potatoes.  A year  later,  in  November 
2008,  the  situation  had  worsened  considerably  as 
there  were  many  more  sections  of  Manho  Forest 
cleared  for  gardens,  some  of  them  extensive  (J. 
Bayliss  pers.  comm.  2009).  Potatoes  are  sold  in 
Gurue  market  and  are  grown  more  for  cash  than 
for  subsistence. 


Some  species  of  conservation  concern  that 
occur  at  high  densities  at  mid  altitude  must  have 
seriously  declined  due  to  deforestation  at  that 
level,  e.g.  Cholo  Alethe  and,  probably,  Green 
Barbet.  White-winged  Apalis,  already  very  rare  on 
the  southern  slopes,  has  little  chance  of  surviving 
on  Namuli.  The  fate  of  other  threatened  species 
like  Dapple-throat,  Spotted  Ground  Thrush 
and  Namuli  Apalis  was  of  less  concern  until 
recently,  but  the  degradation  of  Manho  Forest, 
and  the  heavy  logging  of  Faurea  in  Ukalini  is  very 
worrying.  Manho  is  the  same  size  as  the  forest  on 
Thyolo  Mountain  in  Malawi,  most  of  which  was 
cleared  by  farmers  in  a period  of  five  years. 

Although  not  on  the  Red  List,  two  high- 
montane  species  occur  on  Namuli  in  (very)  small 
numbers,  and  need  special  attention.  These  are 
Eastern  Mountain  Greenbul  and  especially  Olive 
Thrush,  which  are  restricted  to  a few  small  patches 
of  high-altitude  forest  on  Muretha  and  (the 
greenbul)  at  the  upper  edges  of  Manho  Forest. 
One  of  the  main  threats  to  these  may  be  climatic, 
if  indeed  the  climate  is  going  to  become  warmer 
or  drier  in  the  region,  but  in  the  more  immediate 
future  these  species  are  also  very  vulnerable  to 
any  amount  of  disturbance  through  collecting. 
Too  many  collecting  expeditions  from  overseas 
take  no  account  of  the  small  numbers  of  many 
species  in  isolated  montane  forests;  this  has  been 
a serious  problem  in  adjacent  Malawi  since  the 
early  2000s. 

Mabu 

The  forest  at  Mabu  is  under  much  less  pressure 
than  at  Namuli.  The  human  population  in  the 
foothills  is  smaller  and  more  scattered,  and  at 
present  shifting  cultivation  is  practised  entirely 
within  the  woodland  areas.  The  main  damage 
to  the  forest  is  in  the  form  of  dry-season  bush 
fires;  the  prolonged  drought  in  October  wrought 
some  real  damage  to  forest  edges  at  800-1,000 
m.  Hunting  for  mammals  or  large  birds  is  also 
a problem,  and  has  apparently  led  to  the  near- 
extinction of  Crested  Guineafowl  (as  admitted 
by  the  hunter  interviewed).  A large  expanse 
of  lowland  forest  or  transition  woodland  was 
replaced  by  tea  plantations  at  low  levels  but, 
surprisingly,  some  forest  understorey  birds  have 
adapted  to  tea,  especially  East  Coast  Akalat  and 
Blue-mantled  Flycatcher.  It  is  possible  that  some 
of  the  overgrown  tea  plantations  will  be  replaced 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -173 


by  new  crops,  but  there  is  no  immediate  plan  for 
this  (J.  Timberlake  pers.  comm.  2009),  and  the 
low  cost  of  tea  makes  renewed  exploitation  of  tea 
on  a large  scale  unlikely. 

Conclusion 

The  forests  oi  both  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains 
are  of  extreme  importance  for  the  conservation  of 
several  threatened  and  isolated  bird  species.  The 
forest  at  Mabu  is  considerably  more  extensive  and 
must  now  be  considered  a key  area  for  the  Cholo 
Alethe,  with  a population  at  least  equivalent  in  size 
to  that  on  Mount  Mulanje  in  Malawi.  Due  to  its 
sheer  size  and  remoteness,  it  must  also  be  the  most 
important  refuge  for  the  belcheri  race  of  Green 
Barbet  and  several  other  species  in  the  region, 
above  all  East  Coast  Akalat  and  Swynnerton’s 
Robin.  But,  as  most  of  the  forest  is  at  mid  altitudes 
and  the  local  microclimate  appears  relatively  warm, 
Dapple-throat  and  Namuli  Apalis  are  found  only 
at  the  upper  levels  and  in  such  low  densities 
that  their  survival  in  the  long  term  may  not  be 
guaranteed  in  the  face  of  possible  climate  change. 
For  these  two  species  alone,  the  conservation  of 
the  Afromontane  forest  on  Namuli  must  be  a 
priority.  Further  surveys  are  needed,  in  other  high 
sections  of  the  forest  at  Mabu,  and  also  on  several 
other  peaks  near  Namuli  that  bear  patches  of 
forest.  Part  of  the  Namuli  plateau  itself  has  yet  to 
be  explored,  especially  the  plateau  c. 5 km  south- 
east of  Ukalini,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Malema 
River;  much  of  this  plateau  reaches  c.  1,500  m 
and  is  covered  with  forest  patches.  The  forest 
on  Mount  Chiperone,  especially  the  upper  levels 
at  1,500-2,000  m,  is  still  intact  (J.  Bayliss  pers. 
comm.  2008)  and  remains  largely  unexplored. 
The  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History  (Chicago) 
collected  birds  here  at  c.  1,600  m in  late  2004, 
but  the  results  are  unavailable  (J.  Bayliss  & J. 
Timberlake  pers.  comm.  2008-09). 

The  forests  on  Namuli  and  Mabu  receive 
no  legal  protection,  and  the  Mozambique 
government  is  yet  to  draft  conservation  legislation 
for  the  country’s  natural  habitats.  Any  legal 
dispositions  likely  to  be  taken  should  be  combined 
with  agricultural  projects  aimed  at  helping  local 
communities,  especially  to  improve  the  yield 
of  their  crops  closer  to  settlements.  An  agro- 
industrial business  operating  in  Mozambique  was 
at  one  stage  interested  in  putting  money  into 
conservation  at  Namuli,  but  unfortunately  they 


pulled  out  in  2009.  Every  effort  should  be  made 
to  resurrect  interest,  as  the  situation  at  Namuli 
requires  urgent  action. 

Acknowledgements 

I thank  Jonathan  Timberlake,  Paul  Smith  and  BirdLife 
International  for  inviting  me  to  undertake  these  surveys, 
and  the  Darwin  Initiative  Award  15/036  and  the 
Tondation  pour  favoriser  les  recherches  scientifiques 
en  Afrique’  (FFRSA,  Brussels)  for  meeting  my  expenses. 
Claire  Spottiswoode  kindly  provided  details  of 
unpublished  observations  at  Mabu,  as  well  as  a copy  of 
the  cassette  of  bird  recordings  made  by  Eric  Herrmann 
in  December  2005  at  Mabu  and  Thyolo.  I am  grateful 
to  Lincoln  Fishpool  for  providing  photographs  of 
Apalis  warblers  from  the  Natural  History  Museum 
(Tring)  and  for  comments  on  the  text. 

References 

Anderson,  G.  Q.  A.,  Evans,  T.  D.,  Watson,  L.  G. 
1997.  The  Tanzanian  race  of  Swynnerton’s  Robin 
Swynnertonia  swynnertoni  rodgersi.  Bull.  ABC  4: 
83-89. 

Benson,  C.  W.  1950.  A collection  from  Chiperoni 
Mountain,  Portuguese  East  Africa.  Bull.  Br. 
Ornithol.  Cl.  70:  51. 

Bibby,  C.  J.,  Burgess,  N.  D.  & Hill,  D.  A.  1992.  Bird 
Census  Techniques.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 
BirdLife  International.  2008.  Threatened  Birds  of  the 
World 2008.  CD-ROM.  Cambridge,  UK:  BirdLife 
International. 

Chittenden,  H.  undated  (2007).  Roberts  Bird  Guide. 

Cape  Town:  John  Voelcker  Bird  Book  Fund. 
Clancey,  P.  A.  1971.  A handlist  of  the  birds  of  southern 
Mozambique.  Mems.  Inst.  Invest.  Cient.  Mogamb. 
10,  ser.  A (1969-70):  145-302. 

Clancey,  P.  A.  1996.  The  Birds  of  Southern  Mozambique. 
Westville,  KwaZulu-Natal:  African  Bird  Book 
Publishing. 

Collar,  N.  J.  2005.  Family  Turdidae  (thrushes).  In 
del  Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Christie,  D.  A.  (eds.) 
Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  10. 
Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

Collar,  N.  J.  & Stuart,  S.  N.  1985.  Threatened  Birds 
of  Africa  and  Related  Islands.  Cambridge,  UK: 
International  Council  lor  Bird  Preservation. 

Demey,  R.  2007.  Mount  Namuli  Expedition.  22 
May-5  June  2007.  Bird  report.  Unpubl.  rep.  for 
BirdLife  International. 

Dowsett,  R.  J.,  Aspinwall,  D.  R.  & Dowsett-Lemaire, 
F.  2008.  The  Birds  of  Zambia.  Liege:  Tauraco  Press 
& Aves. 


174 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  1983.  Ecological  and  territorial 
requirements  of  montane  forest  birds  on  the  Nyika 
Plateau,  south-central  Africa.  Gerfaut  73:  345- 
378. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  1988.  Fruit  choice  and  seed 
dissemination  by  birds  and  mammals  in  the 
evergreen  forests  of  upland  Malawi.  Rev.  Ecol. 

( Terre  & Vie ) 43:  251-285. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  1989.  Ecological  and 
biogeographical  aspects  of  forest  bird  communities 
in  Malawi.  Scopus  13:  1-80. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  2008a.  On  the  singing  habits 
of  forest  honeyguides  of  the  Guineo-Congolian 
region,  with  a request  for  further  information.  Bull. 

ABC  15:  24-35. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  2008b.  Survey  of  birds  on  Namuli 
Mountain  (Mozambique),  November  2007,  with 
notes  on  vegetation  and  mammals.  Rep.  for  Darwin 
Initiative  Award  15/036.  http://www.kew.org/ 
science/di  rectory/ projects/an  nex/namuli-birds- 
Dowsett.pdf 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  L.  & Dowsett,  R.  J.  2006.  The  Birds 
of  Malawi.  Liege:  Tauraco  Press  & Aves. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  & Dowsett,  R.  J.  2009.  The 
avifauna  and  forest  vegetation  of  Mt  Mabu, 
northern  Mozambique,  with  notes  on  mammals. 
Rep.  for  Darwin  Initiative  Award  15/036.  Available 
as  a .pdf  from  the  authors  and  from  Kew,  UK. 

Fishpool,  L.  D.  C.  2010.  Brief  notes  on  the  birds  of 
Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique.  Bull.  ABC 
17:  198-201. 

Gibbon,  G.  1991.  Southern  African  Bird  Sounds.  Six 
cassettes.  Hillary:  Southern  African  Birding. 

Hanmer,  D.  B.  1976.  Birds  of  the  Lower  Zambezi. 
Southern.  Birds  2:  1-66. 

Hockey,  P.  A.  R.,  Dean,  W.  R.  J.  & Ryan,  P.  G.  (eds.) 
2005-  Roberts — Birds  of  Southern  Africa.  Seventh 
edn.  Cape  Town:  )ohn  Voelcker  Bird  Book  Fund. 

Irwin,  M.  P.  S.  1981.  The  Birds  of  Zimbabwe.  Salisbury 
(Harare):  Quest  Publications. 

Keith,  S„  Urban,  E.  K.  & Fry,  C.  H.  (eds.)  1992.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.  4.  London,  UK:  Academic 
Press. 

Marsterson,  A.  N.  B.  & Child,  G.  F.  T.  1959. 
Ornithological  notes  on  an  expedition  to  the 
Chimanimani  Mountains.  Ostrich  30:  22-32. 

Melo,  M.  P.,  Covas,  R.  & Dijkstra,  K.-D.  undated 
(c.2002).  Namuli  Massif,  1-6  December  2001. 
Bird  report.  Unpubl.  rep. 

Oatley,  T.  B.  & Tinley,  K.  L.  1989.  The  forest  avifauna 
of  Gorongosa  Mountain,  Mozambique.  Ostrich 
Suppl.  14:  57-61. 


Parker,  V.  1999.  The  Atlas  of  the  Birds  of  Sul  do 
Save,  Southern  Mozambique.  Cape  Town:  Avian 
Demography  Unit  & Johannesburg:  Endangered 
Wildlife  Trust. 

Parker,  V.  2001.  Mozambique.  In  Fishpool,  L.  D.  C. 
& Evans,  M.  I.  (eds.)  Important  Bird  Areas  in  Africa 
and  Associated  Islands:  Priority  Sites  for  Conservation. 
Newbury:  Pisces  Publications  & Cambridge,  UK: 
BirdLife  International. 

Parker,  V.  2005.  The  Atlas  of  the  Birds  of  Central 
Mozambique.  Cape  Town:  Avian  Demography 
Unit  & Johannesburg:  Endangered  Wildlife  Trust. 

Ryan,  P.  G.,  Bento,  C.,  Cohen,  C.,  Graham,  J.,  Parker, 
V.  & Spottiswoode,  C.  1999a.  The  avifauna  and 
conservation  status  ol  the  Namuli  Massif,  northern 
Mozambique.  Bird  Conserv.  Intern.  9:  315-331. 

Ryan,  P.,  Spottiswoode,  C.,  Parker,  V.,  Graham, 
J.,  Cohen,  C.  & Bento,  C.  1999b.  The  birds  of 
Namuli,  northern  Mozambique:  retracing  Vincent’s 
footsteps.  Bull.  ABC  6:  138-143. 

Spottiswoode,  C.  N.,  Patel,  I.  H.,  Herrmann,  E., 
Timberlake,  J.  & Bayliss,  J.  2008.  Threatened  bird 
species  on  two  little-known  mountains  (Chiperone 
and  Mabu)  in  northern  Mozambique.  Ostrich  79: 
1-7. 

Stevenson,  T.  & Fanshawe,  J.  2002.  Field  Guide  to 
the  Birds  of  East  Africa.  London,  UK:  T.  & A.  D. 
Poyser. 

Stuart,  S.  N.  & Jensen,  F.  P.  1985.  The  avifauna  of 
the  Uluguru  Mountains,  Tanzania.  Gerfaut  75: 
155-197. 

Stuart,  S.  N.  & Jensen,  F.  P.  1987.  Altitudinal  zonation 
of  the  avifauna  in  Mwanihana  and  Magombera 
Forests,  eastern  Tanzania.  Gerfaut7J:  165-186. 

Vincent,  J.  1933.  The  Namuli  Mountains,  Portuguese 
East  Africa.  Geogr.  J.  81:  314-332. 

Vincent,  J.  1933-36.  The  birds  of  Northern  Portuguese 
East  Africa.  Comprising  a list  of,  and  observations 
on,  the  collections  made  during  the  British  Museum 
Expedition  of  1931-32.  Ibis  (13)3:  611-652;  4: 
126-160,  305-340,  495-527,  757-799;  5:  1-37, 
355-397, 485-529,  707-762;  6:  48-125. 

Le  Pouget,  30440  Sumene,  France.  E-mail:  dowsett@ 

aol.com 

Received  23  October  2009;  revision  accepted  7 June 

2010. 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -175 


Appendix  1.  Coordinates  of  main  localities  at 

Namuli,  Mabu  and  in  the  region. 

to 

o> 

"ro 

C 

“O 

to 

Annexe  1.  Coordonnees  des  localites  principales 

CD 

Q_ 

CO 

-Q 

CO 

=n 

11 

"co 

CO 

a Namuli,  Mabu  et  dans  la  region. 

Falconidae 

Malawi' 

Peregrine  Falcon  Falco  peregrinus 

R 

H 

F 

Mount  Mulanje  (3,002  m) 
Thyolo  Mountain  (1,462  m) 

15°57'S  35°35’E 
16°04’S  35°02'E 

Phasianidae 

Hildebrandt’s  Francolin  Francolinus  hildebrandti 
Red-necked  Spurfowl  Francolinus  afer 

FE/G 

G 

L/M/H 

L 

F 

F 

Mozambique: 

Numididae 

Mount  Chiperone  (2,054  m) 

16°29’S  35°43'E 

‘Crested  Guineafowl  Guttera  pucherani  (OK) 

F 

L 

R 

Namuli: 

Columbidae 

Namuli  peak  (2,419  m) 

15°22’S  37°03'E 

Rameron  Pigeon  Columba  arquatrix 

F 

H 

C 

Muretha  Plateau  (1,860  m) 

15°23’S  37°02'E 

Eastern  Bronze-naped  Pigeon  Columba  delegorguei 

F 

M 

C 

Malema  River  bridge  (1,250  m) 

15°24’S  37°04’E 

Lemon  Dove  Aplopelia  larvata 

F 

H 

C 

Mabu : 

Blue-spotted  Wood  Dove  Turturafer 

F/W 

L 

F 

Mabu  peak  (1,710  m) 

16°18’S  36°24’E 

Tambourine  Dove  Turturtympanistria 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Main  forest  camp  (980  m) 

16°17’S  36°24’E 

Psittacidae 

Camp  at  tea  house  (540  m) 

16018’S  36°25’E 

‘Brown-necked  Parrot  Poicephalus  robustus  (OK) 

F/W 

L/M/H 

u 

Musophagidae 

Livingstone’s  Turaco  Tauraco  livingstonii 

F 

L/M/H 

c 

Appendix  2.  Bird  species  recorded  at  Mabu. 

Species  marked  * were  noted  by  other  observers,  followed  by  their  initials:  CS 
(C.  Spottiswoode  in  December  2005),  LF  (L.  D.  C.  Fishpool),  MC  (M.  Curran),  OK 
(hunter  Ofelio  Kavaliyawo).  Habitats:  F = forest;  FE  = forest  edge;  W - transition 
woodland;  G = grassland  and  scrub;  R = granitic  dome;  FI  - commensal  (tea 
house).  Altitudinal  limits:  L = 400-1,000  m;  M = 1,000-1,400  m;  H = c.1,400  m 
and  above.  Status:  C = common  (recorded  daily  in  relevant  habitat);  F = fairly 
frequent;  U = few  records;  R = rare  or  vagrant.  Dates  of  Palearctic  migrants 
appear  in  brackets  after  name. 

Annexe  2.  Liste  des  especes  observees  a Mabu. 

Les  especes  marquees  d'un  asterisque  ont  ete  notees  par  d’autres  observateurs, 
dont  les  initiales  suivent : CS  (C.  Spottiwoode  en  decembre  2005),  LF  (L.  D. 

C.  Fishpool),  MC  (M.  Curran),  OK  (Ofelio  Kavaliyawo).  Habitats : F = foret 
dense ; FE  = lisieres  forestieres ; W = foret  claire  de  transition ; G = formation 
herbeuse  et  arbustive ; R = dome  granitique ; FI  = milieu  commensal  (batiments). 
Limites  altitudinales : L = 400-1.000  m ; M = 1.000-1.400  m ; H = c.1.400  m et 
au-dessus.  Statut : C = commun  (note  tous  les  jours  dans  le  milieu  approprie) ; 

F = assez  frequent ; U = peu  de  donnees ; R = rare  ou  accidentel.  Les  dates  de 
migrateurs  palearctiques  apparaissent  entre  parentheses  apres  le  nom. 


Accipitridae 

African  Cuckoo  Hawk  Aviceda  cuculoides  F/W 

European  Honey  Buzzard  Pernis  apivorus  (19  Oct,  ‘Dec,  CS)  F 
Palm-nut  Vulture  Gypohierax  angolensis  F 

Brown  Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  cinereus  F/W 

Southern  Banded  Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  fasciotatus  F/W 
African  Harrier  Hawk  Polyboroides  typus  F/W 

African  Goshawk  Accipiter  tachiro  F 

Lizard  Buzzard  Kaupifalco  monogrammicus  W 

Common  Buzzard  Buteo  buteo  (30  Oct,  ‘Dec,  CS)  W 

‘Augur  Buzzard  Buteo  augur  (LF)  W 

Lesser  Spotted  Eagle  Aquila  pomarina  (23  Oct)  F/R 

Ayres's  Hawk  Eagle  Hieraaetus  ayresii  F/W 

Crowned  Eagle  Stephanoaetus  coronatus  F 


L R 

L R 

H R 

L F 

L/M/H  F 

L/M/H  F 

L/M/H  C 

L R 

L R 

L R 

H R 

L U 

M/H  C 


Cuculidae 

Red-chested  Cuckoo  Cuculus  solitarius 
African  Emerald  Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx  cupreus 
Klaas’s  Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx  klaas 
Yellowbill  Ceuthmochares  aereus 
Burchell’s  Coucal  Centropus  superciliosus 
Tytonidae 
Barn  Owl  Tyto  alba 
Strigidae 

Spotted  Eagle  Owl  Bubo  africanus 
African  Wood  Owl  Strix  woodfordii 

Apodidae 

African  Palm  Swift  Cypsiurus  parvus 
Common  Swift  Apus  apus  (29  Oct) 
White-rumped  Swift  Apus  caffer 
Mottled  Swift  Tachymarptis  aequatorialis 
Alpine  Swift  Tachymarptis  melba 
Trogonidae 

Narina’s  Trogon  Apaioderma  narina 
Bar-tailed  Trogon  Apaioderma  vittatum 

Alcedinidae 

African  Pygmy  Kingfisher  Ceyx  plctus 
Grey-headed  Kingfisher  Halcyon  leucocephala 

Meropidae 

Little  Bee-eater  Merops  pusillus 
Madagascar  Bee-eater  Merops  superciliosus 
Eurasian  Bee-eater  Merops  apiaster  (11-28  Oct) 

Coraciidae 

Broad-billed  Roller  Eurystomus  glaucurus 

Bucerotidae 

Crowned  Hornbill  Tockus  alboterminatus 
Silvery-cheeked  Hornbill  Bycanistes  brevis 

Lybiidae 

White-eared  Barbet  Stactolaema  leucotis 
Green  Barbet  Stactolaema  olivacea 
Yellow-rumped  Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus  bilineatus 

Indicatoridae 

Scaly-throated  Honeyguide  Indicator  variegatus 
Lesser  Honeyguide  Indicator  minor 


F/W  L R 

F L R 

F/W  L F 

F L R 

FE/G  L/M  C 

W/H  L U 


W/R  L U 

F L/M/H  C 


W L U 

W L R 

W/H  L U 

R L/H  F 

R H U 

F L/M  C 

F H C 

FE  L F 

W L R 

G L R 

W L U 

F/W  L/M/H  F 

W L U 

F/W  L U 

F L/M/H  C 

F L/M  U 

F L/M/H  C 

F/W  L/M/H  C 


F/W  L/M  F 

F L U 


176  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Ornithological  exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains:  Dowsett-Lemaire 


</> 

CO 

c 

ro 

CD 

CO 

</> 

<£ 

"oj 

^ </> 

o> 

Q_ 

15 

ro 

iH  e 

"to 

’o 

CD 

Q_ 

15 

CO 

% E 

ZJ 

"to 

CO 

n: 

*<  --= 

tn 

C/5 

=n 

:= 

in 

Pallid  Honeyguide  Indicator  meliphilus 

F 

L/M 

u 

Muscicapidae 

Picidae 

'Spotted  Flycatcher  Muscicapa  striata  (CS,  11  Dec) 

w 

L 

u 

Golden-tailed  Woodpecker  Campethera  abingoni 

F 

M/H 

u 

Ashy  Flycatcher  Muscicapa  caerulescens 

W/FE 

L 

c 

Cardinal  Woodpecker  Dendropicos  fuscescens 

W/F 

L 

u 

Lead-coloured  Flycatcher  Myioparus  plumbeus 

W/F 

L/M 

F 

Eurylaimidae 

Platyteiridae 

African  Broadbill  Smithornis  capensis 

F 

L 

F 

Cape  (Malawi)  Batis  Batis  capensis  dimorpha 

F 

H 

U 

Hirundinidae 

Mozambique  Batis  Batis  soror 

W/FE 

L/M 

F 

Black  Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne  pristoptera 

FE 

L/M 

F 

Monarchidae 

Lesser  Striped  Swallow  Cecropis  abyssinica 

W/H 

L 

F 

Blue-mantled  Flycatcher  Trochocercus  cyanomelas 

F 

L/M 

C 

Barn  Swallow  Hirundo  rustica  (from  23  Oct) 

W/F 

L/M/H 

F 

African  Paradise  Flycatcher  Terpsiphone  viridis 

F 

M 

U 

Eurasian  House  Martin  Delichon  urbicum  (28-29  Oct) 

R/W 

L/H 

F 

Timaliidae 

Motacillidae 

Dapple-throat  Modulatrix  orostruthus 

F 

H 

R 

‘Mountain  Wagtail  Motacilla  clara  (MC) 

R/F 

L 

U 

Paridae 

Striped  Pipit  Anthus  lineivenths 

R/G 

H 

U 

Rufous-bellied  Tit  Pams  rufivenths 

W 

L 

R 

Campephagidae 

Nectariniidae 

Grey  Cuckooshrike  Coracina  caesia 

F 

M 

F 

Violet-backed  Sunbird  Anthreptes  longuemarei 

F 

L 

R 

Pycnonotidae 

Collared  Sunbird  Hedydipna  collaris 

F 

L 

C 

Stripe-cheeked  Greenbul  Andropadus  milanjensis 

F 

M/H 

C 

Olive  Sunbird  Cyanomitra  olivacea 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Little  Greenbul  Andropadus  wens 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Amethyst  Sunbird  Chalcomitra  amethystina 

W 

L 

F 

'Yellow-bellied  Greenbul  Chlorocichla  flaviventris  (CS) 

F 

L 

u 

Yellow-bellied  Sunbird  Cinnyris  venustus 

W,G 

L/H 

F 

Grey-olive  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  cerviniventris 

F 

L 

F 

Zosteropidae 

Cabanis’s  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  cabanisl 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Yellow  White-eye  Zosterops  senegalensis 

F/W 

L/M/H 

C 

Yellow-streaked  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  flavostriatus 

F 

L/M/H 

c 

Oriolidae 

Common  Bulbul  Pycnonotus  barbatus 

W/FE 

L/M/H 

c 

Green-headed  Oriole  Oriolus  chlorocephalus 

F 

(L)/M 

C 

Eastern  Nicator  Nicator  gularis 

F 

L/M 

c 

Malaconotidae 

Turdidae 

Black-fronted  Bushshrike  Malaconotus  nigrifrons 

F 

M 

c 

White-starred  Robin  Pogonocichla  stellata 

F 

H 

c 

Brown-headed  Tchagra  Tchagra  australis 

G/W 

L 

F 

Swynnerton's  Robin  Swynnertonia  swynnertoni 

F 

H 

F 

Southern  Puffback  Dryoscopus  cubla 

W/F 

L/M 

c 

East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunning i 

F 

L/M 

C 

Tropical  Boubou  Laniarius  aethiopicus 

FE/G 

L/M/H 

F 

Cape  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  caffra 

G/FE 

H 

F 

Dicruridae 

Red-capped  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  natalensis 

F 

L/H 

C 

Square-tailed  Drongo  Dicrurus  ludwigii 

F 

L/M 

C 

Eastern  Bearded  Scrub  Robin  Cercotrichas  quadrivirgata 

F 

L 

C 

Corvidae 

White-browed  Scrub  Robin  Cercotrichas  leucophrys 

W 

L 

U 

White-necked  Raven  Corns  albicollis 

R/W 

L/M/H 

F 

Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis 

F 

M/H 

C 

QturnidflP 

Spotted  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  guttata 
Kurrichane  Thrush  Turdus  libonyanus 

F 

W 

M 

L 

R 

R 

oiui  i iiuac 

Red-winged  Starling  Onychognathus  morio 

Ploceidae 

R/FE 

M/H 

U 

Sylviidae 

W/FE 

L 

F 

'Bertram’s  Weaver  Ploceus  bertrandi  (CS) 

FE/W 

L 

R 

Red-faced  Crombec  Sylvietta  whytii 

Spectacled  Weaver  Ploceus  ocularis 

FE 

L 

U 

Yellow-throated  Warbler  Phylloscopus  ruficapilla 

F 

M/H 

C 

Dark-backed  Weaver  Ploceus  bicolor 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Garden  Warbler  Sylvia  borin  (30  Oct) 

F 

L 

R 

'Grosbeak  Weaver  Amblyospiza  albifrons  (CS) 

FE 

L 

R 

Cisticolidae 

G/R 

H 

L 

Estrildidae 

Wailing  Cisticola  Cisticola  lais 

C 

Green  Twinspot  Mandingoa  nitidula 

F/FE 

L/M/H 

C 

Red-faced  Cisticola  Cisticola  erythrops 

G 

F 

Blue-billed  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  rubricata 

FE 

L 

U 

Tawny-flanked  Prinia  Prinia  subflava 

G 

L 

F 

Swee  Waxbill  Estrilda  melanotis 

RIG 

H 

R 

Red-winged  Warbler  Heliolais  erythropterus 

G 

L 

U 

Common  Waxbill  Estrilda  astrild 

G 

L 

C 

Yellow-breasted  Apalis  Apalis  flavida 

F 

L 

F 

Bronze  Mannikin  Spermestes  cucullatus 

G 

L 

C 

Namuli  Apalis  Apalis  (thoracica)  lynesi 

F 

H 

R 

Red-backed  Mannikin  Spermestes  bicolor 

FE/W 

L 

C 

1 Black-headed  Apalis  Apalis  melanocephala 

F 

L/M/H 

C 

Fringillidae 

Yellow-fronted  Canary  Serinus  mozambicus 

Grey-backed  Camaroptera  Camaroptera  brachyura 

W/F 

L/M 

C 

G/W 

L 

F 

Ornithological  exploration  ofNamuli  and  Mabu  Mountains.  Dowsett-Lemaiu 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -177 


The  sweet  option:  the  importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for 
opportunistic  avian  nectarivores 

Craig  Symes 


L’option  douce  : l’importance  de  Aloe  marlothii  pour  des  nectarivores  aviens  opportunistes.  Les 

especes  de  Aloe  sont  endemiques  a l’Airique,  oil  elles  sont  repandues,  offranr  du  nectar  a une  multitude 
d’especes  animales.  Cet  article  resume  les  resultats  d une  etude  de  trois  ans,  menee  dans  la  Reserve  naturelle 
du  Suikerbosrand,  Gauteng,  Afrique  du  Sud,  qui  avait  pour  objectif  d’examiner  l’importance  du  nectar  de 
A.  marlothii  pour  les  oiseaux.  Le  nectar  est  dilue  et  copieux  et  facilement  accessible  pour  une  multitude  de 
nectarivores  opportunistes  (au  moins  77  especes)  qui  agissent  comme  pollinisateurs  legitimes. 

Summary.  Aloe  species  are  endemic  and  widespread  in  Africa,  offering  nectar  to  a host  of  animal  species. 
This  paper  summarises  the  findings  of  a three-year  study  at  Suikerbosrand  Nature  Reserve,  South  Africa, 
investigating  the  importance  of  A.  marlothii  nectar  for  birds.  The  nectar  is  dilute  and  copious  and  easily 
accessible  to  a host  of  opportunistic  neactarivores  (at  least  77  species)  that  act  as  legitimate  pollinators. 


loe  Linnaeus,  species  are  widespread  in  the 
Afrotropical  region  with  a concentration 
of  diversity  in  southern  Africa  (Holland  1978, 
Reynolds  1969,  Glen  & Hardy  2000,  Van  Wyk 
& Smith  2005).  A uniquely  charismatic  and 
widespread  species  found  in  South  African  savannas 
is  Aloe  marlothii  A.  Berger  (Asphodelaceae),  a 
single-stemmed  aloe  that  grows  up  to  6 m in  height 
(Reynolds  1969,  Glen  & Hardy  2000,  Van  Wyk 
& Smith  2005).  Flowers  vary  in  colour  throughout 
their  range  from  bright  orange  to  red,  and  gaudy 
infloresences  suggest  pollination  by  birds  (Reynolds 
1969,  Glen  & Hardy  2000,  Van  Wyk  & Smith 
2005).  The  dilute  nectar  (c.  12%),  produced  in 
copious  amounts  (c.250  pl/flower)  during  the  dry 
winter  period  (June-September),  when  little  else 
is  flowering,  attracts  a host  of  opportunistic  avian 
nectarivores  (Symes  & Nicolson  2008,  Symes  et 
al.  2008).  Herein  I summarise  aspects  of  a three- 
year  study  investigating  the  symbiotic  relationship 
of  A.  marlothii  and  a suite  of  avian  opportunistic 
nectarivores. 

An  Aloe  marlothii  nectar  oasis  for  birds 

The  first  comprehensive  documentation  of  birds 
feeding  on  A.  marlothii  nectar  was  by  Oatley  ( 1 964) 
at  Ndumu  Game  Reserve  in  northern  KwaZulu- 
Natal.  His  list  included  43  nectar-feeding  bird 
species  belonging  to  21  families.  Although  earlier 
accounts  exist  (Marloth  1915),  very  little  work  has 
been  done  in  understanding  these  animal-plant 
interactions.  This  prompted  a study  at  a large 
aloe  ‘forest’  at  Suikerbosrand  Nature  Reserve, 
c.60  km  south-east  of  Johannesburg,  where  large 


numbers  of  plants  grow  on  rocky,  north-facing 
slopes.  During  transects  over  six  months  almost 
half  (38  of  83  species)  of  all  species  detected 
were  recorded  feeding  on  nectar  (Symes  et  al. 
2008).  An  additional  four  species  were  recorded 
feeding  on  nectar  outside  of  transects  (Symes  et 
al.  2008).  In  most  observations,  birds  were  seen 
probing  the  compact  arrangement  of  flowers  on 
the  near-horizontal  racemes.  However,  for  many 
birds  the  bright  wash  of  orange  pollen  dusted  on 
the  facial  area  and  belly  was  sufficient  evidence  for 
a nectar  ‘addiction’  (Fig.  1).  Overall,  throughout 
the  range  of  A.  marlothii , at  least  77  bird  species 
are  known  to  feed  on  the  plant’s  nectar.  Although 
most  of  the  species  observed  feeding  on  nectar 
were  residents,  some  species  only  appeared  when 
nectar  was  available  during  flowering.  During  this 
period  bird  diversity  and  abundance  increased 
significantly,  suggesting  that  their  arrival  is 
dictated  by  the  availability  of  the  sugar-rich  nectar 
of  A.  marlothii.  One  species  that  arrived  in  large 
numbers  when  A.  marlothii  flowered  was  Wattled 
Starling  Creatophora  cinerea.  Most  starlings 
(Sturnidae),  mockingbirds  (Mimidae),  thrushes 
(Turdidae)  and  robins  (Muscicapidae)  are  unable 
to  digest  sucrose,  a Cl 2 sugar  comprising  two  C6 
sugars,  glucose  and  fructose  (Martinez  del  Rio  & 
Stevens  1989,  Martinez  del  Rio  et  al.  1992,  Lotz 
& Schondube  2006).  However,  most  aloe  nectars 
are  glucose/lructose  dominated  (van  Wyk  et  al. 
1993)  making  their  nectars  suitable  for  a wider 
range  of  bird  species. 

Sunbird  abundance  during  the  flowering 
period  at  Suikerbosrand  was  notably  low  and 


178  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


could  be  explained  by  nectar  characteristics. 
Recent  studies  of  plant— pollinator  relationships 
suggest  that  nectar  concentration  and  volume  are 
important  predictors  of  pollination  syndromes, 
with  nectars  of  high  volume  (40-100  pl/flower) 
and  low  concentration  (8-12%  w/w)  focused 
towards  generalist  pollinators,  and  nectars  of  low 
volume  (10-30  pl/flower)  and  high  concentration 
(15-23%  w/w)  attracting  specialist  nectarivores 
e.g.,  sunbirds  (Johnson  & Nicolson  2008). 
However,  in  the  Eastern  Cape  the  response  of 
birds  to  winter-flowering  A.  ferox  might  be  quite 
different.  Although  the  nectar  in  this  ecologically 
similar  aloe  is  of  similar  concentration  and  volume 
(180  pi,  12.5%  w/w)  it  attracts  large  numbers 
of  Malachite  Sunbird  Nectarinia  famosa  so  other 
factors  (like  a lack  of  major  foodplants  at  this 
season)  besides  nectar  characteristics  could  be 
important  determinants  of  plant  visitors. 

The  natural  world  is  an  incredible  assemblage 
of  symbiotic  relationships.  Birds  eat  nectar  but 
how  do  aloes  benefit?  By  feeding  in  a manner 
where  pollen  is  deposited  onto  feathers,  generalist 
birds  act  as  important  pollinators  of  A.  marlothii. 
This  was  confirmed  during  two  flowering  seasons 
by  conducting  pollinator  exclusion  experiments 
(Symes  et  al.  2009).  Honeybees  Apis  mellifera 
also  visited  aloes  but  in  smaller  numbers;  they 
are  probably  excluded  as  pollinators  because  the 
nectar  is  more  dilute  than  they  prefer  and  because 
they  were  present  in  such  low  numbers  at  this 
specific  site;  where  numbers  are  greater  their  role 
as  pollinators  might  be  more  important. 

The  tubular  length  of  A.  marlothii  flowers 
(c.33  mm)  suggests  a specialist  bird-pollinated 
syndrome  (i.e.  sunbirds).  However,  because  large 


amounts  of  nectar  ooze  from  the  flower  opening, 
many  short-billed  birds  can  access  the  nectar 
without  damaging  flowers.  No  birds  have  been 
observed  (like  Cape  White-eye  Zosterops  capensis ) 
robbing  nectar,  confirming  the  legitimacy  of  most 
visitors  as  true  pollinators. 

Of  particular  importance  to  the  study  was  the 
use  of  stable  isotopes,  a technique  that  was  in  its 
infancy  in  the  1960s  when  Terry  Oatley  made 
his  observations  of  opportunistic  nectarivory  at 
A.  marlothii.  Stable  carbon  isotopes  are  a useful 
tool  in  understanding  animal  diets  because  they 
quantify  assimilated  material,  and  depending  on 
the  tissue  studied  (which  is  related  to  turnover 
rates  of  tissue)  provide  a window  into  different 
dietary  time  periods.  A.  marlothii  employs  a 
unique  water-saving  carbon  fixation  pathway 
during  photosynthesis  (i.e.  crassulacean  acid 
metabolism  or  CAM  photosynthesis),  which  is 
found  in  many  plants  of  arid  regions.  Because 
of  this,  it  has  a unique  carbon  isotopic  signature 
compared  to  C photosynthesising  plants.  By 
measuring  the  carbon  isotopic  signature  (SI3C)  in 
whole  blood  before,  during  and  after  flowering, 
I was  able  to  track  the  dietary  shift  of  birds  from 
that  of  a C,  photosynthetic  source  (i.e.  broad- 
leaved plants)  to  nectar  (with  a CAM  isotope 
signature).  Furthermore,  by  measuring  carbon 
isotope  signatures  of  CO,  in  breath  samples  1 was 
able  to  determine  the  importance  of  nectar  sugars 
as  a readily  available  energy  source  for  birds;  this 
is  because  carbon  in  breath  represents  immediately 
metabolised  carbohydrates  (Symes  et  al.  in  prep.). 
The  analysis  of  breath  also  indicated  that  analysis 
of  blood  under-estimated  the  importance  of  nectar 
sugars  for  most  nectar-feeding  birds. 


Table  1 . Number  of  extant  species  in  dominant  nectarivore  families  for  each  zoogeographic  region  (shaded),  including  sunbirds 
(Nectariniidae),  sugarbirds  (Promeropidae),  honeyeaters  (Meliphagidae)  and  hummingbirds  (Trochilidae)  (after  Maclean  1990). 

Tableau  1 . Nombre  d’especes  dans  les  families  essentiellement  nectarivores  pour  chaque  region  zoogeographique  (hachure) : 
souimangas  (Nectariniidae),  promerops  (Promeropidae),  meliphages  (Meliphagidae)  et  colibris  (Trochilidae)  (d'apres  Maclean  1990), 


Neotropics 

Nearctic 

Palaearctic 

Afrotropics 

Indo-Malaya 

Australasia 

Total 

Trochilidae 

324 

13 

0 

0 

0 

0 

337 

Nectariniidae 

0 

0 

2 

78 

39 

2 

121 

Promeropidae 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

2 

Meliphagidae 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

159 

169 

324 

13 

2 

80 

49 

161 

629 

Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 179 


Figure  1.  African  Red-eyed  Bulbuls  Pycnonotus  nigricans 
feeding  on  Aloe  marlothii  flowers.  The  study  site  formed 
a region  of  overlap  with  Dark-capped  Bulbul  Pycnonotus 
tricolor  (which  were  never  observed,  although  hybrids 
were)  (Craig  Symes) 

Bulbuls  brunoirs  Pycnonotus  nigricans  se  nourrissant  sur  les 
fleurs  de  Aloe  marlothii.  Le  site  d’etude  formait  une  zone 
de  chevauchement  avec  le  Bulbul  des  jardins  Pycnonotus 
barbatus  tricolor  (qui  n’a  jamais  ete  observe,  bien  que  des 
hybrides  ont  ete  vus)  (Craig  Symes) 


Figure  2.  Avian  nectar  feeders  in  Aloe  marlothii  forest 
at  Suikerbosrand  Nature  Reserve,  Gauteng  (a-f)  and 
common  avian  pollinators  showing  pollen  dusted  on  facial 
area  from  feeding  on  nectar  (g-j). 

(a)  Immature  male  Malachite  Sunbird  Nectarinia  famosa 
and  African  Red-eyed  Bulbul  Pycnonotus  nigricans;  (b) 

Aloe  marlothii  inflorescences;  (c)  Cape  White-eye  Zosterops 
capensis;  (d)  immature  male  Malachite  Sunbird  Nectarinia 
famosa  probing  flowers  on  raceme;  (e)  Wattled  Starling 
Creatophora  cinerea\  (f)  inflorescence  with  Fiscal  Flycatcher 
Sigelus  silens  perched  on  open  flowers;  (g)  adult  male  Cape 
Weaver  Ploceus  capensis;  (h)  Black-collared  Barbet  Lybius 
torquatus;  (i)  female  Wattled  Starling  Creatophora  cinerea; 
(j)  Red-faced  Mousebird  Urocolius  indicus  (Craig  Symes) 

Oiseaux  se  nourrissant  de  nectar  dans  une  foret  de  Aloe 
marlothii,  Reserve  naturelle  du  Suikerbosrand,  Gauteng, 
Afrique  du  Sud  (a-f)  et  pollinisateurs  aviens  communs 
avec  du  pollen  sur  leur  face  OK  apres  avoir  pris  du  nectar 

(g-j)- 

(a)  Souimanga  malachite  Nectarinia  famosa  male  immature 
et  Bulbul  brunoir  Pycnonotus  nigricans  ; (b)  inflorescences 
de  Aloe  marlothii ; (c)  Zosterops  du  Cap  Zosterops  capensis ; 
(d)  Souimanga  malachite  male  immature  explorant  des 
fleurs  ; (e)  Etourneau  caroncule  Creatophora  cinerea  ; (f) 
inflorescence  avec  un  Gobemouche  fiscal  Sigelus  silens 
perche  sur  des  fleurs  ouvertes  ; (g)  Tisserin  du  Cap 
Ploceus  capensis  male  adulte  ; (h)  Barbican  a collier  Lybius 
torquatus  ; (i)  Etourneau  caroncule  Creatophora  cinerea 
femelle  ; (j)  Coliou  quiriva  Urocolius  indicus  (Craig  Symes) 


1 80  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -181 


Avian  nectarivory  in  the  Afrotropics 

Avian  nectarivory  is  most  broadly  dominated  by 
three  families:  the  New  World  hummingbirds 
(Trochilidae),  the  Old  World  sunbirds 
(Nectariniidae)andtheAustralo-Pacifichoneyeaters 
(Meliphagidae)  (Maclean  1990;  Table  1).  The 
sugarbirds  (Promeropidae,  two  species)  were  once 
considered  a unique  nectar-feeding  family  of 
Africa,  although  a recent  study  suggests  additions  to 
this  taxon  (i.e.  Grey-chested  Illadopsis  Kakamega 
poliothorax , Spot-throat  Modulatrix  stictigula 
and  Dapple-throat  Arcanator  orostruthus ) that 
are  not  nectar  feeders  (Beresford  et  al.  2005). 
Nectar-feeding  is  not  confined  to  specialist  taxa 
and  occurs  in  a wide  range  of  other  families. 
In  the  Neotropics  the  number  of  nectar-feeding 
specialists,  besides  hummingbirds,  is  comparatively 
low  and  includes  members  of  the  Dacnini  and 
Coerebini,  tribes  of  the  Thraupidae  and  Parulidae 
respectively  (Burns  et  al.  2003,  Dickinson  2003). 
In  some  regions  where  these  major  nectarivore 
families  have  not  colonised,  and  monopolised 
the  nectar-feeding  niche,  diversification  within 
other  families  has  occurred  (Nicolson  & Fleming 
2003).  These  include,  for  example,  the  Hawaiian 
honeycreepers  (Drepanidinae)  (Pratt  2005),  the 
asities  and  sunbird-asities  (Philepittidae;  four 
species)  of  Madagascar  (Prum  1993,  Irestedt 
et  al.  2001),  the  Irenidae  (fairy-bluebirds;  two 
species),  Chloropseidae  (leafbirds;  eight  species) 
and  Aegithinidae  (ioras;  four  species)  of  the  Indo- 
Malayan  Region  (Wells  et  al.  2003a,  Dickinson 
2003,  Fuchs  et  al.  2006),  and  the  Dicaeidae 
(flowerpeckers,  42  species)  of  Australasia  (Delacour 
1944,  Beecher  1953,  Sibley  & Ahlquist,  1991, 
Ericson  & Johansson  2003).  The  enigmatic 
Lorinae  (Psittacidae)  of  Australasia  are  also 
uniquely  adapted  for  nectarivory  with  a brush-tip 
tongue  (Forshaw  2006),  as  is  a single  member  of 
the  Timalidae  (babblers),  the  Fire-tailed  Myzornis 
Myzornis pyrrhoura  (Wells  et  al.  2003b).  However, 
the  Melanocharitidae  (berrypeckers,  12  species) 
of  New  Guinea  lack  the  specialised  structure 
of  the  tongue  for  feeding  on  nectar  (Beehler 
et  al.  1986).  The  stitchbird  (Notiomystidae), 
recently  relegated  to  a monotypic  family  (from 
Meliphagidae),  is  a nectar-feeder  endemic  to  New 
Zealand  (Driskel  et  al.  2007). 

In  the  Afrotropics  the  overall  diversity  of 
opportunistic  nectar-feeding  birds  is  unknown. 
This  study  has  highlighted  the  high  diversity 


of  opportunistic  nectar  feeders  for  a single  aloe 
species  in  southern  Africa.  Therefore,  for  the  rest 
of  the  continent  this  list  could  be  greatly  increased. 
To  date  the  diversity  of  opportunistic  nectarivores 
appears  greater  than  in  other  zoogeographic 
regions,  and  is  probably  explained  by  the  different 
feeding  roles  of  birds  in  different  regions.  In 
the  Australo-Pacific  region  the  equivalent  role 
of  opportunistic  nectarivores  might  be  filled  by 
honeyeaters  with  broader  dietary  requirements, 
whilst  in  the  Afrotropics  the  role  of  opportunistic 
nectarivores  may  be  filled  by  several  families 
that  do  not  typically  feed  on  nectar  (Keast 
1985;  Appendix).  Furthermore,  competition 
of  opportunistic  nectarivores  with  specialist 
nectarivores  (i.e.  sunbirds)  in  the  Afrotropics  could 
be  high,  thereby  explaining  the  low  number  of 
sunbird  species  in  the  Afrotropics  compared  to  the 
number  of  hummingbird  and  honeyeater  species 
in  the  Neotropics  and  Australasia  respectively, 
where  there  are  fewer  opportunistic  nectarivores 
(Table  1).  An  alternative  explanation  may  relate 
to  degrees  of  weather  predictability  and  associated 
plant  assemblages  and  flowering  patterns  in  each 
of  the  regions. 

Other  interactions  involving  aloes 

Aloe  marlothii  nectar  is  important  for  many  other 
organisms  besides  birds  and  the  use  of  nectar 
might  be  an  important  determinant  of  local 
movements  for  Chacma  Baboons  Papio  hamadryas 
ursinus.  Observations  suggest  that  troops  with 
ranges  that  overlap  with  A.  marlothii  make  greater 
use  of  the  aloe  forest  during  flowering,  utilising 
nectar  and  succulent  leaves  as  a food  and  water 
source  (pers.  obs.).  During  periods  of  low  rainfall 
other  mammal  species  might  make  use  of  Aloe 
nectar  but  may  occur  in  such  low  numbers  that 
the  scale  of  competition  with  birds  is  low. 

Aloe  marlothii  is  also  important  to  birds  for 
many  other  reasons.  The  most  abundant  bird 
species  recorded  during  censuses  was  Laughing 
Dove  Streptopelia  senegalensis,  a species  that 
seldom  (if  ever)  fed  on  nectar.  It  was  observed 
nesting  during  drier  months  (August-September) 
on  horizontal  leaves  of  tall  aloes.  Although  the 
spines  of  aloes  afford  protection  from  predators, 
baboons  are  able  to  ascend  plants  to  access  nectar 
or  rob  nests.  Also,  avian  predators  might  still  pose 
a threat;  in  one  instance  a Pied  Crow  Corpus  alhus 
was  recorded  robbing  a nest  with  eggs  (pers.  obs.); 


182  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


the  latter  species  was,  however,  never  observed 
feeding  on  nectar.  Aloes  also  benefited  birds 
in  other  ways  besides  providing  nectar.  Water 
collected  after  rains  in  the  horizontal  leaves  was 
used  as  a drinking  and  bathing  source  by  birds. 
Barbets  excavated  nesting  cavities  in  trunks  of 
tall  aloes,  and  the  dry  leaf  skirt  was  used  as  a 
protected  site  for  birds  to  construct  nests  (e.g. 
Fiscal  Flycatcher  Sigelus  si  lens). 

Conclusion 

The  list  of  birds  recorded  feeding  on  aloes  has 
increased  from  that  previously  known  and  includes 
at  least  101  species  in  26  families  (Appendix). 
Some  species  might  irregularly  feed  on  nectar 
and  observations  of  them  doing  so  might  be  rare: 
A.  marlothii  is  a widespread  species  in  southern 
Africa  and  the  number  of  species  feeding  on  its 
nectar  could  therefore  exceed  77  species.  This 
phenomenal  diversity  of  opportunistic  nectarivores 
is  possibly  the  highest  number  of  bird  species 
recorded  feeding  on  the  nectar  of  a single  plant 
species  worldwide  (Appendix  1). 

Acknowledgements 

This  study  was  funded  by  the  National  Research 
Foundation  (South  Africa).  Darren  Pietersen  and 
Tracy  Symes  are  thanked  for  assistance  with  the  field 
work.  Franqoise  Dowsett-Lemaire  commented  on  the 
submitted  manuscript. 

References 

Beecher,  W.  J.  1953.  A phylogeny  of  oscines.  Auk  70: 
270-333. 

Beehler,  B.  M.,  Pratt,  T.  K.  & Zimmerman,  D. 
A.  1986.  Birds  of  New  Guinea.  Princeton,  NJ: 
Princeton  University  Press. 

Beresford,  P.,  Barker,  F.  K.,  Ryan,  P.  G.  & Crowe, 
T.  M.  2005.  African  endemics  span  the  tree  of 
songbirds  (Passeri):  molecular  systematics  of  several 
evolutionary  'enigmas’.  Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  272(1565): 
849-858. 

Burns,  K.  J.,  Hackett,  S.  J.  & Klein,  N.  K.  2003. 
Phylogenetic  relationships  of  Neotropical 
honeycreepers  and  the  evolution  of  feeding 
morphology./.  Avian  Biol.  34:  360-370. 

Delacour,  J.  1 944.  A revision  of  the  family  Nectariniidae 
(sunbirds).  Zoologica  29:  17-38. 

Dickinson,  E.  C.  (ed.)  2003.  The  Howard  and  Moore 
Complete  Checklist  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Third 
edn.  Princeton,  NJ:  Princeton  University  Press. 


Driskel,  A.,  Christidis,  L.,  Gill,  B.  J.,  Boles,  W.  E., 
Barker,  F.  K.  & Longmore,  N.  W.  2007.  A new 
endemic  family  of  New  Zealand  passerine  birds: 
adding  heat  to  the  biodiversity  hotspot.  Austral.  J. 
Zool.  55:  73-78. 

Ericson,  P.  G.  P.  & Johansson,  U.  S.  2003.  Phylogeny 
of  Passerida  (Aves:  Passeriformes)  based  on  nuclear 
and  mitochondrial  sequence  data.  Mol.  Phylo.  & 
Evol.  29:  126-138. 

Forshaw,  J.  M.  2006.  Parrots  of  the  World:  An 
Identification  Guide.  Princeton,  NJ:  Princeton 
University  Press. 

Fuchs,  J.,  Fjeldsa,  J.  & Pasquet,  E.  2006.  An 
ancient  African  radiation  of  corvoid  birds  (Aves: 
Passeriformes)  detected  by  mitochondrial  and 
nuclear  sequence  data.  Zool.  Scripta  35:  375-385. 

Glen,  H.  F.  & Hardy,  D.  S.  2000.  Fascicle  1:  Aloaceae 
(First  part):  Aloe.  In  Germishuizen,  G.  (ed.)  Flora 
of  Southern  Africa.  Vol.  5.  Part  1.  Pretoria:  National 
Botanical  Institute. 

Hockey,  P.  A.  R.,  Dean,  W.  R.  J.  & Ryan,  P.  G.  (eds.) 
2005.  Roberts'  Birds  of  Southern  Africa.  Seventh 
edn.  Cape  Town:  Trustees  of  the  John  Voelcker 
Bird  Book  Fund. 

Hoffman,  M.  T.  1988.  The  pollination  ecology  of  Aloe 
ferox  Mill.  S.  Afr.  J.  Bot.  54:  345-350. 

Holland,  P.  G.  1978.  An  evolutionary  biogeography  of 
the  genus  Aloe.  J.  Biogeogr.  5:  213-226. 

Irestedt,  M.,  Johansson,  U.  S.,  Parsons,  T.  J.  & Ericson, 
P.  G.  P.  2001.  Phylogeny  of  major  lineages  of 
suboscines  (Passeriformes)  analysed  by  nuclear 
DNA  sequence  data . J.  Avian  Biol.  32:  15-25. 

Johnson,  S.  D.  & Nicolson,  S.  W.  2008.  Evolutionary 
associations  between  nectar  properties  and  specificity 
in  bird  pollination  systems.  Biol.  Lett.  4:  49-52. 

Keast,  A.  1985.  An  introductory  ecological  biogeography 
of  the  Australo-Pacific  Meliphagidae.  New  Zealand 
J.  Zool.  12:  605-622. 

Lotz,  C.  N.  & Schondube,  J.  E.  2005  Sugar  preferences 
in  nectar-  and  fruit-eating  birds:  behavioral  patterns 
and  physiological  causes.  Biotropica  38:  3-15. 

Maclean,  G.  L.  1990.  Ornithology  for  Africa. 
Pietermaritzburg:  University  of  Natal  Press. 

Maclean,  G.  L.  1993.  Roberts’  Birds  of  Southern  Africa. 
Sixth  edn.  Cape  Town:  Trustees  of  the  John 
Voelcker  Bird  Book  Fund. 

Marloth,  R.  1915.  The  Flora  of  South  Africa,  With 
Special  Synoptical  Tables  of  the  Genera  of  Higher 
Plants.  Vol.  4.  Cape  Town:  Darter  Brothers  & 
Co. 

Martinez  del  Rio,  C.  & Stevens,  B.  R.  1989. 
Physiological  constraint  on  feeding  behavior: 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivoi  es.  Symes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -183 


intestinal  membrane  disaccharidases  oi  the  starling. 
Science  243:  794-796. 

Martinez  del  Rio,  C.,  Baker,  H.  G.  & Baker,  I. 
1992.  Ecological  and  evolutionary  implications 
of  digestive  processes:  bird  preferences  and  the 
sugar  constituents  of  floral  nectar  and  fruit  pulp. 
Experientia  48:  344-551. 

Nicolson,  S.  W.  & Fleming,  P.  A.  2003.  Nectar  as 
food  for  birds:  the  physiological  consequences  of 
drinking  dilute  sugar  solutions.  Plant  Syst.  Evol. 
238:  139-153. 

Oatley,  T.  B.  1964.  The  probing  of  aloe  flowers  by 
birds.  Lammergeyer  3:  2-8. 

Oatley,  T.  B.  2001.  Garden  visitors — sunbirds.  H/rzAz — 
Birds  & Birding  6(3):  26-3 1 . 

Oatley,  T.  B.  & Skead,  D.  M.  1972.  Nectar  feeding  by 
South  African  birds.  Lammergeyer  15:  68-69. 

Pratt,  H.  D.  2005.  The  Hawaiian  Honeycreepers. 

Oxford:  Oxford  University  Press. 

Prum,  R.  O.  1993.  Phylogeny,  biogeography,  and 
evolution  of  the  broadbills  (Eurylaimidae)  and 
asities  (Philepittidae)  based  on  morphology.  Auk 
110:  304-324. 

Reynolds,  G.  W.  1969.  The  Aloes  of  South  Africa.  Cape 
Town:  A.  A.  Balkema. 

Skead,  C.  J.  1967.  The  Sunbirds  of  Southern  Africa. 

Cape  Town:  A.  A.  Balkema. 

Symes,  C.  T.  & Nicolson,  S.  W.  2008.  Production  of 
copious  dilute  nectar  in  the  bird-pollinated  African 
succulent  Aloe  marlothii  (Asphodelaceae).  S.  Afr.  J. 
Bot.  74:  598-605. 

Symes,  C.  T.,  Nicolson,  S.  W.  & McKechnie,  A. 
E.  2008.  Response  of  avian  nectarivores  to  the 


flowering  of  Aloe  marlothii'.  a nectar  oasis  during  dry 
South  African  winters.  / Ornithol.  1 49:  13-22. 
Symes,  C.  T.,  Human,  H.  & Nicolson,  S.  W.  2009. 
Appearances  can  be  deceiving:  pollination  in  two 
sympatric  winter-flowering  Aloe  species.  S.  Afr.  J. 
Bot.  doi:  10. 10l6/j.sajb.2009.08.008. 

Symes,  C.  T.,  McKechnie,  A.  E.,  Nicolson,  S.  W. 
& Woodborne,  S.  M.  in  prep.  The  nutritional 
significance  of  winter-flowering  Aloe  marlothii  for 
opportunistic  avian  nectarivores. 

Van  Wyk,  B.-E.  & Smith,  G.  2005.  Guide  to  the  Aloes 
of  Southern  Africa.  Pretoria:  Briza  Publications. 

Van  Wyk,  B.-E.,  Whitehead,  C.  S„  Glen,  H.  F„ 
Hardy,  D.  S.,  Van  Jaarsveld,  E.  J.  & Smith,  G.  F. 
1993.  Nectar  sugar  composition  in  the  subfamily 
Alooideae  (Asphodelaceae).  Biochem.  Syst.  Ecol.  21: 
249-253. 

Wells,  D.  R.,  Dickinson,  E.  C.  & Dekker,  R.  W.  R. 
J.  2003a.  Systematic  notes  on  Asian  birds.  36. 
A preliminary  review  of  the  Chloropseidae  and 
Iredinae.  Zool.  Verhand.  (Leiden)  344:  25-42. 
Wells,  D.  R.,  Dickinson,  E.  C.  & Dekker,  R.  W.  R. 
J.  2003b.  Systematic  notes  on  Asian  birds.  34. 
A preliminary  review  of  the  Aegithinidae.  Zool. 
Verhand.  (Leiden)  344:  7-15. 

School  of  Animal,  Plant  and  Environmental  Sciences, 
University  of  the  Witwatersrand,  P/Bag  3,  WITS,  2050, 
South  Africa.  E-mail:  craig.symes@wits.ac.za 

Received  3 December  2008;  revision  accepted  21 
September  2009. 


Appendix  1 . Bird  species  recorded  feeding  on,  or  suspected  of  feeding  on,  Aloe  marlothii  nectar. 

Dominant  feeding  guild  (after  Maclean  1993):  fr  = frugivore,  gr  = granivore,  in  = insectivore,  ne  = nectarivore,  om  = omnivore. 

Level  of  nectarivory  (after  Oatley  1964):  0 = non-feeder  but  present  therefore  suspected  feeder,  1 = occasional,  2 = casual,  3 = regular,  4 = addict,  5 = true  nectarivore. 
SNR  = recorded  at  Suikerbosrand  Nature  Reserve. 

References:  1 = Oatley  (1964),  2 = Skead  (1967),  3 = Oatley  & Skead  (1972),  4 = Hoffman  (1988)  (records  attributed  to  A.  ferox ),  5 = Maclean  (1993),  6 = Oatley  (2001), 

7 = pers.  obs„  8 = this  study,  9 = A.  Craig  pers.  comm,  (records  attributed  to  A . ferox),  10  = B.  de  Boer  pers.  comm.,  11  = M.  Kriek  pers.  comm.,  12  = C.  Botes  unpubl. 
data.  Taxonomy  follows  Hockey  et  a/.  (2005). 

* Buphagus  erythrorhynchus  was  observed  for  the  first  time  at  the  study  site  (first  known  record  for  SNR)  only  during  the  flowering  period  and  is  by  association  with  A. 
marlothii  recorded  as  a nectar  feeder. 

Annexe  1 . Especes  d'oiseaux  ayant  ete  observees  en  train  de  se  nourrir  du  nectar  de  Aloe  marlothii  ou  suspectees  de  le  faire. 

Regime  alimentaire  dominant  (d’apres  Maclean  1993) : fr  = frugivore,  gr  = granivore,  in  = insectivore,  ne  = nectarivore,  om  = omnivore. 

Niveau  de  nectivorie  (d’apres  Oatley  1964) : 0 = n’a  pas  ete  observe  se  nourrissant  de  nectar  mais  present  et  ainsi  suspecte  de  le  faire,  1 = accidentel,  2 = occasionnel,  3 
= regulier,  4 = tres  regulier,  5 = vrai  nectarivore. 

SNR  = observe  dans  la  Reserve  naturelle  du  Suikerbosrand. 

References : 1 = Oatley  (1964),  2 = Skead  (1967),  3 = Oatley  & Skead  (1972),  4 = Hoffman  (1988)  (mentions  attribuees  a A.  ferox),  5 = Maclean  (1993),  6 = Oatley 
(2001),  7 = obs.  pers.,  8 = cette  etude,  9 = A.  Craig  comm.  pers.  (mentions  attribuees  a A.  ferox),  10  = B.  de  Boer  comm,  pers.,  11  = M.  Kriek  comm,  pers.,  12  = C.  Botes 
donnees  non  publiees.  La  taxonomie  suit  Hockey  et  al.  (2005). 

* Buphagus  erythrorhynchus  a ete  observe  pour  la  premiere  fois  sur  le  site  d’etude  (premiere  mention  connue  pour  SNR)  uniquement  pendant  la  periode  de  floraison  et 
est  considere  comme  un  nectarivore  par  son  association  avec  A.  marlothii. 


184  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


Feeding  Guild  Level  of  nectarivory 


Species  and  family 

Indicatoridae 

Lesser  Honeyguide 

Picidae 

Cardinal  Woodpecker 

Lybiidae 

White-eared  Barbel 
Yellow-rumped  Tinkerbird 
Yellow-fronted  Tinkerbird 
Red-fronted  Tinkerbird 
Acacia  Pied  Barbet 
Black-collared  Barbet 
Crested  Barbet 
Phoeniculidae 
Green  Woodhoopoe 
Rhinopomastidae 
Common  Scimitarbill 
Coliidae 

White-backed  Mousebird 
Speckled  Mousebird 
Red-faced  Mousebird 

Psittacidae 

Brown-headed  Parrot 
Musophagidae 
Grey  Go-away-bird 
Columbidae 
Laughing  Dove 
Cape  Turtle  Dove 
Oriolidae 

Black-headed  Oriole 
Dicruridae 
Fork-tailed  Drongo 
Malaconotidae 
Brown-crowned  Tchagra 
Southern  Boubou 
Corvidae 
Pied  Crow 

White-necked  Raven 

Paridae 

Grey  Penduline  Tit 
Southern  Black  Tit 
Pycnonotidae 
Dark-capped  Bulbul 
African  Red-eyed  Bulbul 
Cape  Bulbul 
Sombre  Greenbul 
Terrestrial  Brownbul 
Sylviidae 
Cape  Grassbird 
Yellow-bellied  Eremomela 
Burnt-necked  Eremomela 
Long-billed  Crombec 
Arrow-marked  Babbler 


Scientific  Name 


SNR  Refs. 


Indicator  minor 

In 

1 

1 

3 

Dendropicos  fuscescens 

In 

1 

1 

8 

Stactolaema  leucotis 

Fr/ln 

2 

1 

Pogoniulus  bilineatus 

Fr/ln 

1 

- 

3 

Pogoniulus  chrysoconus 

Fr/ln 

2 

- 

10 

Pogoniulus  pusillus 

Fr/ln 

2 

- 

1 

Tricholaema  leucomelas 

Fr 

2 

' 1 

1,3,8 

Lybius  torquatus 

Fr/ln 

2 

1 

1,3,8 

Trachyphonus  vaillantii 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

3,8 

Phoeniculus  purpureus 

In 

1 

1 

3 

Rhinopomastus  cyanomelas 

In 

1 

1 

1,3, 8,11 

Colius  colius 

Fr/Fo 

2 

1 

3 

Colius  striatus 

Fr/Fo 

4 

1 

1,2, 3, 8,12 

Uroco/ius  indicus 

Fr/Fo 

4 

1 

1,3,8 

Poicephalus  cryploxanthus 

Fr 

4 

- 

1 

Corythaixoides  concolor 

Fr/Fo 

3 

1 

3,7 

Slreptopelia  senegalensis 

Gr/ln 

1 

1 

1,3,8 

Streptopelia  capicola 

Gr/ln 

1 

1 

1,3 

Oriolus  larvatus 

In/Fr 

3 

1 

1,2, 3, 9,10 

Dicrurus  adsimilis 

In/Ca 

3 

- 

1,2, 3, 9,12 

Tchagra  australis 

In 

1 

1 

8 

Laniarius  ferrugineus 

In/Fr 

3 

1 

1,3 

Corns  a/bus 

Ca/Gr/Fr 

1 

1 

3 

Corns  albicollis 

Ca 

3 

1 

Garland  in  1. 3 

Anthoscopus  caroli 

In 

3 

- 

1 

Parus  niger 

In 

2 

1,3 

Pycnonotus  tricolor 

Fr/ln 

4 

1 

1,3,11 

Pycnonotus  nigricans 

Fr/ln 

4 

1 

3,8 

Pycnonotus  capensis 

Fr 

3 

- 

5 

Andropadus  importunus 

In/Fr 

4 

- 

1,3,12 

Phyllastrephus  terrestris 

In/Fr 

4 

1 

Sphenoeacus  afar 

In 

1 

1 

3,8 

Eremomela  icteropygialis 

In 

1 

1 

3 

Eremomela  usticollis 

In 

2 

- 

1 

Sylvietta  rufescens 

In 

2 

1 

1,3,8 

Turdoides  jardineii 

In/Fr 

2 

1,3 

Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Symes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -185 


Species  and  family 

Scientific  Name 

Feeding  Guild 

Level  of  nectarivory 

SNR 

Refs. 

Chestnut-vented  Tit-Babbler 

Parisoma  subcaeruleum 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

3,8 

Zosteropidae 

African  Yellow  White-eye 

Zosterops  senegalensis 

In/Fr 

3 

_ 

1 

Cape  White-eye 

Cisticolidae 

Zosterops  capensis 

In/Fr 

4 

1 

2, 3, 8, 9,10,12 

Rattling  Cisticola 

Cisticola  chiniana 

In 

4 

1 

1,3,8 

Neddicky 

Cisticola  fulvicapilla 

In 

4 

1 

1,3,8 

Tawny-flanked  Prinia 

Prinia  subflava 

In 

3 

1 

1,3 

Black-chested  Prinia 

Prinia  flavicans 

In 

3 

1 

3,8 

Karoo  Prinia 

Prinia  maculosa 

In 

1 

- 

3 

Bar-throated  Apalis 

Apalis  thoracica 

In 

2 

1 

8 

Yellow-breasted  Apalis 

Apalis  flavida 

In/Fr 

1 

- 

1,3 

Rudd’s  Apalis 

Apalis  ruddi 

In 

3 

- 

3 

Muscicapidae 

1 

Cape  Rock  Thrush 

Monticola  rupestris 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

3, 8,12 

Pale  Flycatcher 

Bradornis  pallidus 

In/Fr 

2 

- 

1 

Southern  Black  Flycatcher 

Melaenornis  pammelaina 

In/Fr 

2 

- 

1 

Fiscal  Flycatcher 

Sigelus  silens 

In/Fr 

3 

1 

1,3,8 

African  Dusky  Flycatcher 

Muscicapa  adusta 

In/Fr 

2 

- 

12 

Cape  Robin-Chat 

Cossypha  caffra 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

8 

White-browed  Scrub-Robin 

Cercotrichas  leucophrys 

In/Fr 

2 

- 

1 

Buff-streaked  Chat 

Oenanthe  bifasciata 

In 

3 

- 

3 

Mocking  Cliff  Chat 

Sturnidae 

Thamnolaea  cinnamomeiventris 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

3 

Red-winged  Starling 

Onychognathus  morio 

Fr/ln 

3 

1 

3,4, 7, 9,12 

Black-bellied  Starling 

Lamprotornis  corruscus 

Fr/ln 

3 

- 

1,3 

Cape  Glossy  Starling 

Lamprotornis  nitens 

In/Fr 

3 

1 

1,3, 7, 8,9 

Pied  Starling 

Spreo  bicolor 

In/Fr 

3 

1 

3,9 

Wattled  Starling 

Creatophora  cinerea 

In/Fr 

1 

1 

8 

Red-billed  Oxpecker* 

Nectarinidae 

Buphagus  erythrorhynchus 

In 

0 

1 

8 

Olive  Sunbird 

Cyanomitra  olivacea 

Hello 

5 

- 

- 

Grey  Sunbird 

Cyanomitra  mom 

Hello 

5 

- 

- 

Amethyst  Sunbird 

Chalcomitra  amethystina 

Ne/ln 

5 

1 

2,4,7, 9,12 

Scarlet-chested  Sunbird 

Chalcomitra  senegalensis 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2,7 

Bronzy  Sunbird 

Nectarinia  kilimensis 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2 

Malachite  Sunbird 

Nectarinia  famosa 

Ne/ln 

5 

1 

2, 7, 8, 9,12 

Collared  Sunbird 

Hedydipna  collaris 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

7,12 

Southern  Double-collared  Sunbird 

Cinnyris  chalybeus 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2,4, 7,9 

Greater  Double-collared  Sunbird 

Cinnyris  afer 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2, 7, 9,12 

White-bellied  Sunbird 

Cinnyris  talatala 

Ne/ln 

5 

1 

2, 7,8 

Dusky  Sunbird 

Cinnyris  fuscus 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2, 6,9 

Marico  Sunbird 

Cinnyris  mariquensis 

Ne/ln 

5 

- 

2,6 

Promeropidae 

Gurney's  Sugarbird 

Promerops  gurneyi 

Ne/ln 

5 

_ 

2 

Cape  Sugarbird 

Ploceidae 

Promerops  cater 

Ne/ln 

5 

2 

Lesser  Masked  Weaver 

Ploceus  intermedius 

In/Gr 

3 

- 

5 

Spectacled  Weaver 

Ploceus  ocularis 

In/Fr/Gr 

4 

- 

1 

Cape  Weaver 

Ploceus  capensis 

In/Gr 

3 

1 

2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 

Yellow  Weaver 

Ploceus  subaureus 

In/Gr/Fr 

4 

- 

U 

Southern  Masked  Weaver 

Ploceus  velatus 

In/Gr 

4 

1 

1,3,8 

186 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivores:  Synies 


Species  and  family 

Village  Weaver 
Dark-backed  Weaver 
White-winged  Widowbird 
Red-collared  Widowbird 
Estrildidae 
Black-faced  Waxbill 
Common  Waxbill 
Violet-eared  Waxbill 
Green-winged  Pytilia 
Jameson’s  Firefinch 
Passeridae 
House  Sparrow 
Cape  Sparrow 

Southern  Grey-headed  Sparrow 
Yellow-throated  Petronia 
Fringillidae 
Black-throated  Canary 
Yellow-fronted  Canary 
Yellow  Canary 
Brimstone  Canary 
Streaky-headed  Seedeater 
Cinnamon-breasted  Bunting 
Cape  Bunting 

Total  number  of  species 


Scientific  Name 

Ploceus  cucullatus 
Ploceus  bicolor 
Euplectes  albonotatus 
Euplectes  ardens 

Estrilda  erythronotos 
Estrilda  astrild 
Granatina  granatina 
Pytilia  melba 
Lagonosticta  rhodopareia 

Passer  domesticus 
Passer  melanurus 
Passer  diffusus 
Petronia  superciliaris 

Serious  atrogularis 
Serious  mozambicus 
Serious  flaviventris 
Serious  suiphuratus 
Serious  gularis 
Emberiza  tahapisi 
Emberiza  capensis 


Feeding  Guild 

In/Gr 

In/Fr 

Gr/ln 

Gr/ln 

Gr/ln 

Gr/Fr 

Gr 

Gr 

Gr 

Gr/Fr/ln 

Gr/ln/Fr 

Gr/ln 

In/Gr 

Gr/ln 

Gr/ln/Fo 

Gr/ln/Fo 

Gr/Fr/Fo 

Gr/Fo 

Gr/ln 

Gr 

101 


Level  of  nectarivory 

4 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

1 

3 

2 

3 

3 

1 

1 


SNR 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 


Refs. 

1,2,3 

1 

3 

3,8 

3,8 

3 

8 

8 

8 


3 

3 

3,8 

1,2,3 

3,8 

1,2,3 

3 

1,2,3 
1,3,4, 8,12 
8 
8 


Join  our  great  value  tours  to  Madagascar,  Namibia,  Cameroon,  Malawi  & more. 
Book  Cape  Town  Pelagics  & day  trips.  Ask  about  last-minute  discounts. 


Cape  Town 
Pelagics 


www.capetownpelagics.com 


Birding 


www.birdingafrica.com 


Contact  Callan  Cohen 
Call  + 27  21  531  9148 
Email  info@birdingafrica.com 


Importance  of  Aloe  marlothii  for  opportunistic  avian  nectarivoi  es:  Symes 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -187 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor 
movements  and  the  potential  connectivity  among 
regional  populations  using  satellite-telemetry 

Volker  Salewski",  Brooks  Childress h and  Martin  Wikelski“ 


Examiner  les  mouvements  du  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  et  la  connectivity  potentielle  parmi 
les  populations  regionales  en  utilisant  des  balises  argos.  Le  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  est 
considere  comme  « Quasi  Menace  » parce  que  ses  populations  semblent  subir  une  diminution  moderement 
rapide  de  leurs  effectifs.  Le  Plan  d’Action  international  pour  la  Conservation  du  Flamant  nain  estime 
que  la  degradation  des  habitats  de  reproduction  et  de  nourrissage  de  Fespece  constitue  la  menace  la  plus 
importante.  Une  des  actions  priori taires  est  de  determiner  la  delimitation  et  les  mouvements  des  populations 
en  utilisant  des  balises  argos.  En  mai  2009,  la  Vogelwarte  Radolfcell  de  Flnstitut  ornithologique  Max- 
Planck,  Allemagne,  a entame  un  projet  pour  etudier  les  mouvements  des  Flamants  nains  a l’aide  de  balises 
argos,  en  munissant  quatre  flamants  de  balises  au  Lac  Abijatta,  Ethiopie.  En  juin  2009,  15  autres  Flamants 
nains  ont  ete  equipes  de  balises  au  Lac  Bogoria,  Kenya.  Les  donnees  de  haute  qualite  transmises  par  les 
balises  pendant  les  premieres  semaines  du  projet  permettent  d’esperer  que  des  decouvertes  concernant 
Fecologie  des  mouvements  du  Flamant  nain  vont  etre  faites  pendant  les  annees  a venir. 

Summary.  Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  is  classified  as  Near  Threatened  because  its  populations 
appear  to  be  undergoing  a moderately  rapid  reduction.  The  International  Single  Species  Action  Plan  for 
the  Conservation  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  identifies  the  degradation  of  the  species’  breeding  and  feeding 
habitats  as  the  most  critical  threat.  One  of  the  actions  given  high  priority  in  the  action  plan  is  to  determine 
population  delineation  and  movements  using  satellite  tracking  to  determine  movements  between  lakes, 
interchange  and  possible  gene  flow  between  populations,  and  site  usage.  In  May  2009,  the  Vogelwarte 
Radolfzell  at  the  Max-Planck  Institute  for  Ornithology,  Germany,  commenced  a project  to  investigate  the 
movements  of  Lesser  Flamingos  by  satellite  telemetry,  by  tagging  four  Lesser  Flamingos  with  solar-powered 
GPS  platform  transmitter  terminals  (PTT)  at  Lake  Abijatta,  Ethiopia.  In  June  2009,  15  additional  Lesser 
Flamingos  were  equipped  with  PTTs  at  Lake  Bogoria,  Kenya.  During  the  first  weeks  of  the  project  the 
PTTs  transmitted  high-quality  data  indicating  that  in  the  next  few  years  the  project  will  reveal  new  insights 
into  the  ecology  of  Lesser  Flamingo  movements. 

Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  is  the 
smallest  and  most  numerous  flamingo  species 
in  the  world  (Childress  et  al.  2008)  and,  like  all 
flamingos,  is  a habitat  specialist.  Lesser  Flamingos 
depend  on  shallow  saline  alkaline  wetlands  in 
which  they  forage  mainly  on  blue-green  algae 
and  benthic  diatoms  (Ridley  et  al.  1955,  Tuite 
1979,  2000).  There  are  four  distinct  regional 
populations  in  Africa  and  Asia.  Childress  et 
al.  (2008)  list  69  key  sites,  i.e.  sites  regularly 
holding  >1%  of  a regional  population,  but  regular 
successful  breeding  has  been  confirmed  at  only  six 
(Fig.  1).  Due  to  their  declining  populations,  Lesser 
Flamingos  are  categorised  as  Near  Threatened  in 
the  2009  IUCN  Red  List  of  Threatened  Species 
(BirdLife  International  2009).  The  species  is  also 
listed  in  columns  A and  B of  the  Agreement  on 
the  Conservation  of  African-Eurasian  Migratory 
Waterbirds  (AEWA)  Action  Plan,  Appendix  II 


of  the  Bonn  Convention  and  Appendix  II  of  the 
CITES  convention  (Childress  et  al.  2008). 

There  are  three  distinct  regional  populations 
of  Lesser  Flamingo  in  Africa.  The  world’s  largest 
concentration,  of  an  estimated  1.5-2. 5 million 
individuals,  representing  >75%  of  the  global 
population  (Wetlands  International  2006),  occurs 
on  soda  lakes  in  the  East  African  Rift  Valley 
(Brown  et  al.  1982,  Mlingwa  & Baker  2006). 
However,  during  the  past  50  years  regular  breeding 
of  this  population  has  been  recorded  only  at  Lake 
Natron,  Tanzania  (Bartholomew  & Pennycuick 
1973,  Brown  et  al.  1982,  Childress  et  al.  2008). 
Historically,  Lesser  Flamingos  were  also  recorded 
breeding  at  Lake  Nakuru,  Kenya,  with  the  last 
reliable  record  in  1915  (Meinertzhagen  1958). 
Irregular  sporadic  breeding  events  have  also  been 
recorded  at  a few  other  sites,  such  as  Lake 
Turkana,  Kenya,  in  1957,  Lake  Magadi,  Kenya, 


1 88  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Primary  range  states, 

with  >1%  of  regional  populations 

Occurs  regularly, 

but  supports  <1%  of  regional  populations 


★ 


Breeding  occurs  regularly 


☆ 


Single  recent  breeding  event 


Occurs  as  a vagrant 

(has  also  occured  in  Denmark  and  the  Netherlands) 


Figure  1.  Distribution  of  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor  (from  Childress  et  al.  2008). 
Repartition  du  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  (d’apres  Childress  et  al.  2008). 


in  1962  (Brown  & Root  1971)  and  Lake  Abijatta, 
Ethiopia,  in  2005,  when  successful  breeding  of  the 
Lesser  Flamingo  was  recorded  for  the  first  time  in 
the  latter  country,  and  a creche  of  2,500-3,500 
chicks  was  observed  (Bozic  & Ewnetu  2008). 

A smaller  regional  population  occurs  in 
southern  Africa,  with  an  estimated  55,000-65,000 
individuals  (Wetlands  International  2006).  This 
population  increases  during  good  breeding  years 
e.g.  c.80,000  breeding  pairs  were  counted  at 
Sua  Pan,  within  the  Makgadikgadi,  Botswana, 
in  2000,  and  c. 8 5, 000  individuals  were  present 
there  in  March  2005  (Childress  2005).  It  has 
been  speculated  that  numbers  breeding  at  Sua 
Pan  may  be  augmented  by  birds  from  countries 
not  comprehensively  included  in  southern  African 
population  counts,  like  Angola  and  Mozambique, 
or  indeed  from  further  afield  (G.  McCulloch 
pers.  comm.).  Frequent  breeding  occurs  at  Sua 
Pan,  Botswana,  and  less  frequently  at  Etosha 
Pan  in  Namibia  (Simmons  1996,  Borello  et  al. 
1998,  McCulloch  & Borello  2000,  McCulloch 


& Irvine  2004).  Historically,  sporadic  breeding 
with  many  fewer  individuals  involved  was  also 
reported  from  Zambia  (Brown  1957),  and  since 
2007  birds  have  bred  annually  on  a specially 
constructed  island  in  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley, 
South  Africa,  which  colony  produced  c.9,000 
chicks  in  2007/2008  (Anderson  2008,  Childress 
et  al.  2008).  In  2008/2009  almost  15,000  chicks 
were  counted  (M.  Anderson  pers.  comm.).  Lesser 
Flamingos,  thought  to  be  younger  individuals, 
are  well  known  for  attempting  to  breed  at  many 
sites  each  year,  given  suitable  local  conditions. 
However,  these  attempts  usually  involve  few  pairs 
(<  500)  and  are  almost  invariably  unsuccessful. 

A small  population  of  15,000-25,000  Lesser 
Flamingos  occurs  in  West  Africa  (Wetlands 
International  2006),  with  the  main  concentrations 
in  the  Senegal  Delta  and  its  environs  (Trolliet  & 
Fouquet  2001).  ‘Large’  concentrations  are  also 
found  at  coastal  sites  in  northern  Mauritania 
(Isenmann  2006)  and  in  Guinea,  with  up  to 
10,000  individuals  (Trolliet  & Foquet  2001). 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -189 


Breeding  has  rarely  been  reported  in  West  Africa. 
A colony  of  c.800  nests  was  discovered  in  1965  in 
southern  Mauritania  (de  Naurois  1965).  In  the 
same  area  a breeding  attempt  involving  c.200  nests 
failed  in  1988,  apparently  due  to  disturbance  by 
local  hunters  (Lamarche  1988).  Concentrations  of 
juveniles  and  displaying  by  larger  groups  of  adult 
Lesser  Flamingos  led  repeatedly  to  speculations 
that  there  might  be  undiscovered  breeding  sites 
in  West  Africa  (Dugan  1984,  Hamerlynck  & 
Messaoud  2000,  Diawara  et  al.  2008). 

In  South  Asia,  Lesser  Flamingos  occur  at  a 
variety  of  mostly  coastal  sites  between  Yemen 
and  Bangladesh  (Mundkur  1997,  Childress  et 
al.  2006),  and  in  the  saline  wetlands  of  Gujarat 
and  Rajasthan  states  in  north-west  India.  The 
Asian  population  is  apparently  either  subject  to 
extreme  fluctuations  or  the  majority  spend  their 
time  at  sites  not  visited  by  ornithologists  during 
censuses.  Because  ol  the  remoteness  of  the  sites 
used  by  the  species  in  India,  a complete  census  has 
been  difficult  to  obtain.  The  best  current  estimate 
is  390,000  individuals  (Wetlands  International 
2006).  Regular  breeding  is  only  reported  from 
several  sites  in  Gujarat  in  north-west  India,  with 
a maximum  of  c.  10,000  pairs  (Parasharya  & Tere 
2006).  Sporadic  breeding  has  also  reported  in 
the  Indian  state  of  Rajasthan  (Kumar  1996)  and 
unsuccessful  breeding  attempts  have  been  reported 
in  Yemen  (Al-Saghier  & Porter  1996). 

Intra-population  movements  of  Lesser 
Flamingos 

Lesser  Flamingos  generally  make  regular  nomadic 
movements  between  breeding  and  non-breeding 
sites  depending  on  breeding  and  feeding 
conditions.  Seasonal  migration  takes  place  when 
large  numbers  move  from  non-breeding  feeding 
areas  to  the  breeding  sites  when  those  sites  become 
suitable  for  breeding  (e.g.  when  large  pans  flood  in 
southern  Africa  and  India).  These  movements  can 
involve  distances  of  several  hundred  kilometres 
(Childress  et  al.  2007). 

In  eastern  Africa,  the  numbers  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  at  certain  sites  can  vary  by  several  tens 
of  thousands  of  birds  (Vareschi  1978,  Tuite  1979, 
2000,  Mlingwa  & Baker  2006).  On  individual 
lakes,  their  numbers  can  double  or  be  reduced 
by  half  within  the  period  of  a week.  Lesser 
Flamingos  are  adapted  to  respond  to  changes 
in  local  environmental  conditions  by  moving 


Figure  2.  Lesser  Flamingo  / Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias 
minor , Lake  Bogoria,  Kenya  (Volker  Salewski) 


elsewhere,  and  thus  depend  on  a network  of 
sites  (BirdLife  International  2000).  In  1969, 
for  example,  960,000  Lesser  Flamingos  were 
counted  on  just  two  lakes,  Nakuru  and  Bogoria 
in  Kenya  (Bartholomew  & Pennycuick  1973). 
Between  1974  and  1976,  the  number  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  recorded  on  nine  lakes  in  the  Rift 
Valley  of  East  Africa  was  much  lower  (between 
430,000  and  540,000:  Tuite  2000).  The  location 
of  the  ‘missing'  flamingos  was  unknown  but  an 
association  with  relatively  high  numbers  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  in  southern  Africa  was  discussed  (Tuite 
1979,  see  below).  Flowever,  the  ‘missing’  birds 
might  also  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  lakes 
were  not  counted  concurrently,  the  censuses 
having  been  conducted  over  a period  of  several 
months. 

Eight  Lesser  Flamingos  were  equipped  with 
satellite  transmitters  in  Kenya  in  2002/03.  One 
of  these  transmitters  failed  shortly  thereafter,  but 
the  remaining  seven  birds  were  followed  for  up  to 
four  years  (BC  unpubl.).  The  flamingos  moved 
independently  with  varying  flight  directions  and 
distances  as  well  as  varying  stopover  periods  at 


190  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Figure  3.  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor  flying  over  Botswana  (Graham  McCulloch) 
Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  volant  au  dessus  du  Botswana  (Graham  McCulloch) 


Figure  4.  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor  bathe  in  a freshwater  spring,  Lake  Bogoria,  Kenya  (Volker  Salewski) 
Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  se  baignant  dans  une  source  d’eau  douce,  Lac  Bogoria,  Kenya  (Volker  Salewski) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -191 


different  lakes.  There  was  no  clear  pattern  of  the 
birds  choosing  to  stay  at  specific  lakes  and  it  was 
often  the  case  that  one  of  the  tagged  birds  would 
depart  from  a lake  within  days  of  another  arriving 
at  the  same  site.  The  entire  flyway  for  all  tagged 
flamingos  consisted  of  a 940  km  north-south 
range  in  the  Rift  Valley  between  Lake  Logipi, 
Kenya,  and  Lake  Bahi,  Tanzania  (Childress  et  al. 
2007). 

Within  southern  Africa,  Borello  et  al.  (1998) 
and  Childress  (2006)  discussed  indications  for 
extensive  movements  of  Lesser  Flamingos,  such  as 
highly  fluctuating  numbers  in  some  areas,  erratic 
breeding  events  in  high  concentrations  at  different 
sites,  and  observations  of  migrating  birds.  On 
Sua  Pan  in  Botswana,  five  Lesser  Flamingos  were 
equipped  with  satellite  transmitters  of  which 
two  failed  shortly  after  they  were  fitted.  The 
remaining  three  birds  stayed  for  several  months  at 
the  original  site  until  the  lake  dried  out.  During 
the  movements  that  followed  their  departure 
from  Sua  Pan,  south  into  South  Africa,  distances 
of  up  to  930  km  were  covered  within  a few  days 
(McCulloch  et  al.  2003). 

In  West  Africa,  scarcely  anything  is  known 
about  the  movements  of  Lesser  Flamingos.  The 
initiation  of  breeding  in  favourable  environmental 
circumstances  (de  Naurois  1963,  Lamarche 
1988),  the  large  fluctuations  in  the  number  of 
birds  in  the  Senegal  Delta  from  c.  100  to  50,000 
individuals  (Trolliet  & Fouquet  2001),  as  well  as 
the  surprising  discovery  of  up  to  c.  10,000  Lesser 
Flamingos  in  Guinea  (Altenburg  & van  der  Kamp 
1991)  indicate  wide-ranging  movements  within 
this  population.  In  Asia,  the  wide  distribution 
of  the  species  with  only  few  breeding  sites  is 
also  indicative  of  extensive  movements.  Seasonal 
fluctuations  are  regularly  recorded  in  India 
(Parasharya  & Tere  2006). 

Causes  of  movements  within  populations 

There  are  few  studies  investigating  the  causes  of 
movements  in  Lesser  Flamingos.  There  was  a 
significant  correlation  between  the  density  of  algae 
small  enough  to  be  filtered  by  Lesser  Flamingos 
and  Lesser  Flamingo  numbers  berween  December 
1972  and  1974  at  Lake  Nakuru,  Kenya  (Vareschi 
1978).  At  the  same  site,  Tuite  (2000)  also  found 
that  over  many  months  between  1974  and  1976, 
the  number  of  Lesser  Flamingos  was  positively 
associated  with  the  density  of  the  filamentous 


Figure  5.  Waiting  for  the  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias 
minor,  basic  research  camp  at  Lake  Abijatta,  Ethiopia 
(Volker  Salewski) 

Attendant  les  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  ; le 
camp  des  chercheurs  au  Lac  Abijatta,  Ethiopie  (Volker 
Salewski) 


Figure  6.  A Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  is 
equipped  with  a satellite  transmitter  (Volker  Salewski) 

Un  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  est  equipe  d’une 
balise  (Volker  Salewski) 


Figure  7.  A Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  takes 
off  after  being  equipped  with  a satellite  transmitter 
(Volker  Salewski) 

Un  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  s’envole  apres  avoir 
ete  equipe  d’une  balise  (Volker  Salewski) 


192 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


blue-green  algae  Arthrospira  fusiformes  (formerly 
Spirulina  platensis),  the  main  food  of  the  species 
in  East  Africa.  In  this  study,  the  number  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  on  Lake  Nakuru  declined  from  over 
one  million  individuals  in  January  1974  to  less 
than  30,000  in  August  of  the  same  year,  following 
a distinct  decline  of  Arthrospira  in  the  first  half 
of  that  year.  Arthrospira  densities  show  irregular 
fluctuations,  for  unknown  reasons.  Some  peaks 
last  for  several  years  and  the  biomass  can  then 
reach  values  of  more  than  ten  times  the  mean 
density.  Tune  (2000)  associated  these  fluctuations 
in  their  main  food  type  with  the  distribution  of 
Lesser  Flamingos  on  the  lakes  in  the  East  African 
Rift  Valley.  However,  according  to  Vareschi 
(1978)  there  is  no  positive  correlation  between  the 
algal  density  at  different  lakes  and  their  flamingo 
numbers. 

Changes  in  fresh  water  availability,  lake 
water  conductivity  and  disturbance  by  humans 
or  predators  were  considered  unlikely  to  cause 
population  fluctuations  (Vareschi  1978). 

The  studies  using  satellite  tags  on  Lesser 
Flamingos  in  East  Africa  revealed  a non-significant 
trend  showing  that  individual  staging  periods  were 
correlated  with  local  precipitation  (Childress  et  al. 
2007).  In  southern  Africa,  Borello  et  al.  (1998) 
discussed  the  possibility  that  movements  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  are  associated  with  the  movement 
of  the  Intertropical  Convergence  Zone.  Erratic 
breeding  at  Sua  Pan  appears  also  to  be  associated 
with  high  rainfall  (Borello  et  al.  1998)  and  Lesser 
Flamingos  arrive  at  the  breeding  sites  within  days 
of  their  flooding  (McCulloch  & Irvine  2004).  For 
West  Africa,  Hamerlynck  & Messaoud  (2000) 
describe  the  coincidence  of  high  rainfall  with  the 
occurrence  of  Lesser  Flamingos  in  the  Senegal 
Delta.  For  India,  Parasharya  & Tere  (2006)  also 
mention  that  numbers  of  Lesser  Flamingos  vary 
with  the  inundations  of  the  River  Rann  in  the  Rann 
of  Kachchh.  All  these  studies  suggest  a connection 
between  the  numbers  of  Lesser  Flamingos  and  the 
availability  ol  food  resources  and/or  the  suitability 
of  breeding  sites,  but  individual  decisions  during 
non-breeding  movements  between  feeding  sites, 
whilst  probably  linked  to  food  availablity  are  still 
little  understood. 

Movements  between  populations 

There  is  only  one  record  of  a Lesser  Flamingo 
moving  between  two  regional  populations:  a 


bird  that  was  ringed  as  a chick  in  Kenya  in  1962 
was  found  dead  in  the  Western  Sahara  in  1997 
(Childress  & Hughes  2007).  Apparent  parallel 
fluctuations  in  the  sizes  of  regional  populations 
ol  Lesser  Flamingos  have  been  discussed  as  an 
indication  that  migrations  between  regional 
populations  exist  (Borello  et  al.  1998,  Simmons 
1996,  2000). 

In  southern  Africa,  the  unexpected  high 
numbers  of  Lesser  Flamingos  in  November  1974 
at  Sua  Pan,  coinciding  with  a decline  in  numbers  in 
eastern  Africa,  suggested  migration  between  these 
two  regional  populations  (Vareschi  1978,  Borello 
et  al.  1998).  Furthermore,  that  Lesser  Flamingos 
show  fat  deposition  like  other  migrants  was  seen  as 
being  indicative  that  the  birds  could  move  between 
southern  and  eastern  Africa  (Simmons  2000).  On 
the  other  hand,  counts  revealing  unexpected  high 
numbers  of  Lesser  Flamingos  in  southern  Africa 
could  indicate  that  residents  are  more  numerous 
than  previously  thought,  which  could  explain 
high  breeding  densities  without  immigration  from 
eastern  Africa  (Childress  2006).  A coordinated 
census  was  conducted  in  this  region  in  2008,  but 
the  results  have  yet  to  be  reported. 

It  is  unknown  whether  the  Lesser  Flamingos 
observed  regularly  in  Madagascar,  where  breeding 
has  never  been  recorded,  originate  from  eastern  or 
southern  Africa.  Their  occurrence  in  Madagascar, 
together  with  records  on  some  Indian  Ocean 
islands,  has  led  to  speculation  about  movements 
between  Africa  and  India  via  island  hopping 
(Borello  et  al.  1998).  For  India,  Parasharya  & 
Tere  (2006)  also  suggested  possible  immigrations 
into  the  subcontinent  because  of  incredible 
concentrations  during  the  breeding  season. 

None  of  the  birds  equipped  with  satellite 
tags  in  Botswana  and  Kenya  moved  out  of  their 
regional  areas  (McCulloch  et  al.  2003,  Childress 
et  al.  2007).  However,  a recent  molecular  study 
comparing  the  populations  of  eastern  and  southern 
Africa  indicated  that  there  is  some  gene  flow 
between  them,  thereby  supporting  the  hypothesis 
of  at  least  restricted  interchange  between  the  two 
populations  (Zaccara  et  al.  2008). 

Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements 
for  science  and  conservation 

One  of  the  key  questions  in  animal  ecology  is 
how  environmental  heterogeneity  and  the  spatial 
distribution  of  resources  influence  the  distribution 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -193 


Figure  8.  Movements  of  four  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor 
equipped  with  satellite  tags  at  Lake  Abijatta,  Ethiopia,  in  May  2009. 

Les  mouvements  de  quatre  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  equipes 
de  balises  au  Lac  Abijatta,  Ethiopie,  en  mai  2009. 


of  individuals  in  space  and  time.  The  selection 
of  temporary  staging  sites  plays  a key  role  in  the 
life  of  mobile  organisms,  e.g.  for  reproduction, 
predator  avoidance  or  optimal  foraging,  because  in 
general  resources  are  not  evenly  distributed  either 
spatially  or  temporally.  Highly  mobile  organisms 
like  birds  can  cover  relatively  large  distances 
to  exploit  resources,  but  these  movements  are 
also  related  to  costs  like  increased  mortality  or 
decreased  physiological  condition,  with  negative 
effects,  e.g.  on  predator  avoidance  or  reproduction. 
Individual  decision-making  processes  therefore 
possess  direct  fitness  consequences  and  are  the 
basis  lor  the  evolution  of  certain  traits  with 
respect  to  movements.  There  are,  however,  few 
studies  that  investigate  whether  movements  of 
birds  mainly  reflect  the  distribution  of  resources 
or  whether  there  are  different  individual  decision- 
making rules  that  control  their  movements. 
Lesser  Flamingos  perform  erratic  long-distance 
movements  between  extremely  patchily  distributed 
foraging  sites  that  also  show  large,  probably 
unpredictable,  fluctuations  of  resources  over 
time.  Furthermore,  the  species  uses  very  few  sites 
for  reproduction  within  its  huge  geographical 
range  and  breeding  success  is  strongly  related  to 
unpredictable  climatic  events.  Therefore,  Lesser 


Flamingos  are  an  ideal  species  to 
study  decision-making  processes  in 
connection  with  animal  movements. 
Studying  the  movements  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  will  reveal  important 
insights  into  the  biology  of  the  species 
and  will  add  to  our  understanding  of 
the  processes  related  to  the  ecology  of 
animal  movements  in  general. 

Understanding  the  movements  of 
Lesser  Flamingos  has  a direct  applied 
aspect  concerning  the  conservation  of 
the  species  because  the  reliance  of  the 
global  population  on  patchy  habitat 
makes  the  species  very  vulnerable 
when  disturbances  at  a few  key  sites 
occur.  Apart  from  natural  fluctuations 
in  resources  (Tuite  1979,  2000)  and 
unpredictable  conditions  at  some  of  the 
breeding  sites,  there  are  anthropogenic 
threats  to  key  sites.  Vareschi  (1978) 
mentioned  already  that  the  effluent 
from  Nakuru’s  sewage  plant  could 
contaminate  Lake  Nakuru,  especially 
since  potentially  dangerous  industries 
were  built.  The  only  breeding  site  of  the  East  African 
population,  Lake  Natron,  which  is  unprotected,  is 
currently  threatened  by  plans  for  soda  extraction 
facilities  (Childress  et  al.  2008).  Nocturnally, 
migrating  Lesser  Flamingos  are  reported  to  be 
killed  at  powerlines  far  from  their  usual  feeding 
and  breeding  sites  in  southern  Africa  (Borello 
et  al.  1998,  Simmons  2000).  In  West  Africa, 
Lamarche  (1988)  reported  that  the  second  known 
breeding  attempt  of  this  regional  population 
apparently  failed  because  of  disturbance  by  local 
hunters.  For  India,  Parasharya  & Tere  (2006) 
described  hunting  for  meat  consumption  and  egg 
collection  as  important  threats,  the  latter  being 
the  sole  cause  for  the  failure  of  regular  breeding 
attempts  at  Purabcheria.  Furthermore,  collisions 
of  Lesser  Flamingos  with  utility  structures  are  so 
frequent  at  some  sites  that  local  fisherman  patrol 
the  respective  areas  in  the  morning  to  collect  the 
victims.  Childress  et  al.  (2008)  suggested  that 
the  most  critical  threats  to  Lesser  Flamingos  are 
the  degradation  of  their  breeding  and  feeding 
habitats  through  altered  hydrology  and  water 
quality,  wetland  pollution,  extraction  of  salt  and 
soda  ash,  and  the  disruption  of  their  breeding 
colonies  by  human  activities.  The  aim  of  the 


1 94  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


recently  published  International  Single  Species 
Action  Plan  lor  the  Conservation  of  the  Lesser 
Flamingo  (Childress  et  al.  2008),  is  to  improve 
the  conservation  status  of  Lesser  Flamingo  from 
Near  Threatened  to  Least  Concern,  by  seeking  to 
ensure  that  all  major  breeding  and  feeding  sites 
are  designated  as  protected  areas,  maintained  in 
a good  ecological  condition  and  that  breeding 
colonies  are  not  disturbed,  amongst  other 
measures.  The  action  plan  therefore  emphasises 
that  ‘a  high  priority  action  for  the  conservation  of 
the  species  is  to  determine  population  delineation 
and  movements  by  conducting  satellite  tracking  . 

. . to  determine  movements  of  individuals  between 
lakes,  interchange  and  possible  gene  flow  between 
populations  and  site  usage.’ 

A new  study  to  investigate  movements  of 
Lesser  Flamingos  and  potential  connectivity 
between  populations 

The  Vogelwarte  Radolfzell  at  the  Max-Planck- 
Institute  for  Ornithology,  Germany,  was  involved 
in  the  first  satellite-tracking  studies  to  investigate 
movements  of  Lesser  Flamingos  in  the  Rift  Valley 
of  eastern  Africa  (Childress  et  al.  2004,  2007). 
In  a new  project,  50  solar-powered  GPS  satellite 
platform  transmitter  terminals  (PTT)  were  made 
available.  These  PTTs  will  enable  individual 
birds  to  be  followed  for  several  years  through 
the  ARGOS  system  (Toulouse,  France).  The 
data  will  be  stored  in  www.MoveBank.org  and 
can  be  consulted  there  or  in  Google  Earth.  The 
intention  was  to  distribute  the  PTTs  among  the 
West  African  (10-15  PTTs),  East  African  (15-20 
PTTs)  and  Indian  populations  (20-25  PTTs) 
respectively.  Funding  for  more  transmitters  is 
currently  being  sought  to  include  the  southern 
African  population.  The  objectives  of  the  study 
are: 

• to  investigate  movements  of  Lesser  Flamingos 
within  the  regional  populations; 

• to  investigate  environmental  conditions 
associated  with  movements; 

• to  detect  important  staging  areas; 

• to  discover  possible  unknown  breeding  sites, 
e.g.  in  West  Africa; 

• to  investigate  whether  there  are  movements 
between  the  four  regional  populations; 

• to  discover  routes  if  movements  between 
populations  occur; 


• to  assess  the  importance  of  different  staging 
areas; 

• to  assess  threats  during  the  movements  and  at 
important  staging  areas; 

• to  initiate  conservation  strategies  at  important 
staging  areas  and  new  breeding  sites; 

• to  raise  public  awareness  through  contacts 
with  various  media  and  local  organisations; 

• to  gain  publicity  by  an  internet  link  to  follow 
the  flamingo  movements; 

Field  work  commenced  in  early  May  2009 
when  three  adult  male  and  one  adult  female  Lesser 
Flamingos  (sexing  method  based  on  Childress 
et  al.  2005)  were  equipped  with  GPS  satellite 
transmitters  at  Abijatta-Shalla  Lakes  National 
Park  in  Ethiopia  using  the  methods  described 
by  Childress  et  al.  (2007).  Data  sent  by  the 
transmitters  showed  that  all  four  birds  stayed  in 
the  park  during  the  period  immediately  following 
capture.  In  early  June,  one  bird  moved  in  a non- 
stop nocturnal  flight  of  530  km  north-northeast 
to  Lake  Abbe,  on  the  Ethiopian  / Djibouti  border, 
followed  by  a second  individual  in  early  July.  This 
had  been  the  hypothesised  direction  and  flight 
path  for  any  connection  between  the  East  African 
and  Indian  populations. 

In  June  2009,  15  additional  Lesser  Flamingos 
were  equipped  with  GPS  satellite  transmitters  at 
Lake  Bogoria,  Kenya.  One  of  the  PTTs  stopped 
working  on  Lake  Nakuru  after  ten  days.  The  same 
direction  was  followed  by  seven  other  birds  during 
the  first  four  weeks  after  they  were  equipped 
with  the  PTTs,  which  made  their  way  either  to 
Lake  Nakuru,  Lake  Elmentaita  or  to  both  in 
succession.  Additionally,  two  flamingos  chose 
to  fly  even  further,  to  Lake  Natron  in  northern 
Tanzania,  the  only  known  regular  breeding  site 
of  the  East  African  regional  population.  One  of 
these  birds  returned  north  again  after  three  days 
to  Lake  Nakuru,  whilst  the  other  continued 
south  to  Lake  Manyara.  The  solar-powered  GPS 
PTTs  produced  data  of  much  higher  quality 
than  previous  transmitters  using  the  Doppler 
effect,  and  it  is  expected  that  during  the  next 
three  to  four  years  the  PTTs  will  reveal  many 
more  interesting  movement  patterns  leading  to  a 
better  understanding  of  the  species’  movements 
and  ecology,  as  well  as  helping  to  implement  new 
conservation  strategies. 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -195 


Acknowledgements 

In  Ethiopia,  Y.  D.  Abebe  was  of  invaluable  assistance  in 
organising  the  trip  and  the  necessary  permits,  and  we 
also  benefited  from  the  kind  support  of  Y.  Tekja  and 
D.  Pawlos  from  the  Ethiopian  Wildlife  Conservation 
Authority.  J.  Zerihun  drove  us  safely  to  our  field  site, 
where  we  were  assisted  by  H.  Woshe,  T.  Hayatoa 
and  M.  Beriso.  We  are  also  very  grateful  to  A.  Owino 
from  the  Kenya  Wildlife  Service  for  organising  our 
expedition  to  Lake  Bogoria,  and  to  J.  Nyunja.  The 
project  benefited  from  the  kind  support  of  Dr  S.  Kasiki 
from  the  Kenya  Wildlife  Service,  and  W.  Kimosop.  G. 
Wanjala  and  R.  Kimosop  assisted  with  the  field  work. 
We  thank  C.  Hall  for  drawing  Fig.  1.  M.  Anderson 
and  G.  McCulloch  kindly  shared  some  unpublished 
information. 

References 

Al-Saghier,  O.  & Porter,  R.  F.  1996.  The  Bird 
Conservation  Importance  of  the  Aden  Wetlands, 
Republic  of  Yemen.  Aden:  BirdLife  International  & 
the  Ornithological  Society  of  the  Middle  East. 
Altenburg,  W.  & van  der  Kamp,  J.  1991.  Ornithological 
Importance  of  Coastal  Wetlands  in  Guinea. 
Cambridge,  UK:  International  Council  for  Bird 
Preservation. 

Anderson,  M.  2008.  A vision  in  pink — Lesser  Flamingo 
breeding  success.  Africa — Birds  & Birding  13(2): 

42-49. 

Bartholomew,  G.  A.  & Pennycuick,  C.  J.  1973.  The 
flamingo  and  pelican  populations  of  the  Rift  Valley 
lakes  in  1968-1969.  E.  Afr.  Wildl.  J.  11:  189-198. 
BirdLife  International  2000.  Threatened  Birds  of  the 
World.  Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions  & Cambridge, 
UK:  BirdLife  International. 

BirdLife  International  2009.  Species  factsheet: 
Phoeniconaias  minor,  www.birdlife.org  (accessed 
20  July  2009). 

Borello,  W.,  Mundy,  P .J.  & Liversedge,  T.  N. 
1998.  Movements  of  Greater  and  Lesser  Flamingos 
in  southern  Africa.  In  Leshe,  E.,  Lachman,  E. 
& Berthold,  P.  (eds.)  Migrating  Birds  Know  No 
Boundaries.  Tel  Aviv:  Torgos  Publications. 

Bozic,  L.  & Ewnetu,  M.  2008.  First  confirmed  breeding 
record  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  ( Phoenicopterus 
minor)  in  Ethiopia.  Flamingo — Bull.  IUCN-SSC/ 
Wetlands  International  Flamingo  Specialist  Group 
16:  29-30. 

Brown,  H.  D.  1957.  The  breeding  of  the  Lesser 
Flamingo  in  the  Mweru  Wantipa,  Northern 
Rhodesia.  Ibis  99:  688-692. 


Brown,  L.  H.  & Root,  A.  1971.  The  breeding  behaviour 
of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor.  Ibis 
113:  147-172. 

Brown,  L.  H.,  Urban,  E.  K.  & Newman,  K.  1982.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.  1.  London,  UK:  Academic 
Press. 

Childress,  B.  2005.  New  flamingo  population  estimates 
for  Waterbird  Population  Estimates , fourth  edition. 
Flamingo — Bull.  IUCN-SSC/Wetlands  International 
Flamingo  Specialist  Group  13:  18-21. 

Childress,  B.  2006.  Important  Lesser  Flamingo  site 
documented  in  South  Africa.  Flamingo — Bull. 
IUCN-SSC/Wetlands  International  Flamingo 
Specialist  Group  14:  37-38. 

Childress,  B.  & Hughes,  B.  2007.  Evidence  of 
interchange  between  African  Lesser  Flamingo 
populations.  Proc.  XI  Pan-Afr.  Orn.  Congr.  2004. 
Ostrich  78:  507. 

Childress,  B.,  Harper,  D.,  Hughes,  B.,  Van  den  Bosche, 
W.,  Berthold,  P.  & Querner,  U.  2004.  Satellite 
tracking  of  Lesser  Flamingo  movements  in  the  Rift 
Valley,  East  Africa — pilot  study  report.  Ostrich  75: 
57-65. 

Childress,  B.,  Harper,  D.,  Hughes,  B.  & Ferris,  C. 
2005.  Sex  determination  in  the  Lesser  Flamingo 
[Phoenicopterus  minor ) using  morphological 
measurements.  Ostrich  76:  148-153. 

Childress,  B.,  Hughes,  B.,  Harper,  D.,  Van  den  Bossche, 
W.,  Berthold,  P.  & Querner,  U.  2007.  East  African 
flyway  and  key  site  network  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo 
[Phoenicopterus  minor)  documented  through 
satellite  tracking.  Proc.  XI  Pan-Afr.  Orn.  Congr. 
2004.  Ostrich  78:  463-468. 

Childress,  B.,  Nagy,  S.  & Hughes,  B.  (compilers) 
2008.  International  Single  Species  Action  Plan  for  the 
Conservation  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  [Phoeniconaias 
minor).  CMS  Technical  Series  No.  18  & AEWA 
Technical  Series  No.  34.  Bonn. 

Diawara,  Y.,  Siddaty,  Z.  & Bechet,  A.  2008.  Decouverte 
de  deux  colonies  de  Flamants  roses  dans  l’Aftout  es 
Saheli,  Mauritanie  le  29  fevrier  2008.  Flamingo — 
Bull.  IUCN-SSC/Wetlands  International  Flamingo 
Specialist  Group  16:  28. 

Dugan,  P.  J.  1984.  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoenicopterus 
minor  in  West  Africa  in  1983-1984.  Flamingo 
Working  Group  Newsletter  2:  12. 

Hamerlynck,  O.  & Messaoud,  B.  O.  2000.  Suspected 
breeding  of  Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  in 
Mauritania.  Bull.  ABC1\  109-110. 

Isenmann,  P.  2006.  The  Birds  of  the  Banc  dArguin. 
Arles:  Parc  National  du  Banc  d’Arguin  & FIBA. 

Kumar,  S.  1996.  New  flamingo  breeding  ground  at 
Sambhar  Lake.  Hornbill  1 : 26-27. 


196 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Lamarche,  B.  1988.  Liste  commentee  des  oiseaux  de 
Manritanie.  Paris:  Nouakchott. 

McCulloch,  G.  & Borello,  W.  2000.  The  importance 
oi  the  Makgadikgadi  salt  pans  in  Botswana  for 
flamingos  in  Africa.  In  Baldassare,  G.  A.,  Arengo, 

F.  & Bildstein,  K.  L.  (eds.)  Conservation  Biology  of 
Flamingos.  Waterbirds  23  (Spec.  Publ.  1). 

McCulloch,  G.  & Irvine,  K.  2004.  Breeding  of  Greater 
and  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Sua  Pan,  Botswana,  1998- 
2001.  Ostrich  75:  236-242. 

McCulloch,  G.,  Aebischer,  A.  & Irvine,  K.  2003. 
Satellite  tracking  of  flamingos  in  southern  Africa: 
the  importance  of  small  wetlands  for  management 
and  conservation.  Oryx  37:  480-483. 
Meinertzhagen,  R.  1958.  Greater  Flamingoes  in  Kenya. 
Ibis  100:  624. 

Mlingwa,  C.  & Baker,  N.  2006.  Lesser  Flamingo 
Phoenicopterus  minor  counts  in  Tanzanian  soda 
lakes:  implications  for  conservation.  In  Boere, 

G.  C.,  Galbraith,  C.  A.  & Stroud,  D.  A.  (eds.) 
Waterbirds  Around  the  World.  Edinburgh,  UK:  The 
Stationery  Office. 

Mundkur,  T.  1997.  The  Lesser  Flamingo — a summary 
of  its  current  distribution  and  conservation  in  Asia. 
In  Howard,  G.  (ed.)  Conservation  of  the  Lesser 
Flamingo  in  Eastern  Africa  and  Beyond.  Nairobi: 
IUCN. 

de  Naurois,  R.  1965.  Une  colonie  reproductrice  du 
petit  flamant  rose,  Phoenicopterus  minor  (Geoffroy) 
dans  l’Aftout  es  Sahel  (sud-ouest  mauritanien). 
Alauda  33:  166—176. 

Parasharya,  B.  M.  & Tere,  A.  2006.  Lesser  Flamingo 
in  Lndia:  a Knowledge  Update.  Anand:  Anand 
Agricultural  University. 

Ridley,  M.  W„  Moss,  B.  L.  & Percy,  R.  C.  1955.  The 
food  of  flamingos  in  Kenya  Colony.  J.  E.  Afr.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.  22:  147-158. 

Simmons,  R.  E.  1996.  Population  declines,  viable 
breeding  areas,  and  management  options  for 
flamingos  in  southern  Africa.  Conserv.  Biol.  10: 
504-514. 


Simmons,  R.  E.  2000.  Declines  and  movements  of  Lesser 
Flamingos  in  Africa.  In  Baldassare,  G.  A.,  Arengo, 

F.  & Bildstein,  K.  L.  (eds.)  Conservation  Biology  of 
Flamingos.  Waterbirds  23  (Spec.  Publ.  1). 

Trolliet,  B.  & Fouquet,  M.  2001.  La  population  ouest- 
africaine  du  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  : 
Effectifs,  reparation  et  isolement.  Malimbus  23: 
87-92. 

Tuite,  C.  H.  1979.  Population  size,  distribution  and 
biomass  density  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  in  the 
eastern  rift  valley,  1974-1976.  J.  Appl.  Ecol.  16: 
765-775. 

Tuite,  C.  H.  2000.  The  distribution  and  density 
of  Lesser  Flamingos  in  east  Africa  in  relation  to 
food  availability  and  productivity.  In  Baldassare, 

G.  A.,  Arengo,  F.  & Bildstein,  K.  L.  (eds.) 
Conservation  Biology  of  Flamingos.  Waterbirds  23 
(Spec.  Publ.  1). 

Vareschi,  E.  1978.  The  ecology  of  Lake  Nakuru 
(Kenya).  I.  Abundance  and  feeding  of  the  Lesser 
Flamingo.  Oecologia  32:  1 1-35. 

Wetlands  International  2006.  Waterbird  Population 
Estimates.  Fourth  edn.  Wageningen:  Wetlands 
International. 

Zaccara,  S.,  Crosa,  G.,  Childress,  B.,  McCulloch, 
G.  & Harper,  D.  M.  2008.  Lesser  Flamingo 
Phoenicopterus  minor  populations  in  eastern  and 
southern  Africa  are  not  genetically  isolated.  Ostrich 
79:  165-170. 

“ Vogelwarte  Radolfzell  at  the  Max-Planck-Institute  for 

Ornithology,  Schlossallee  2,  78315  Radolfzell,  Germany. 

E-mails:  salewski@orn.mpg.de,  dewikelski@orn.mpg.de 

b The  Wildfowl  and  Wetlands  Trust,  Slimbridge,  GL8 

8XY,  UK.  E-mail:  Brooks.  Childress@wwt.  org.  uk 

Received  31  July  2009;  revision  accepted  18  October 

2009. 


Investigating  Lesser  Flamingo  movements:  Salewski  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -197 


Brief  notes  on  the  birds  of  Mount  Inago, 
northern  Mozambique 

Lincoln  D.  C.  Fishpoot  and  Julian  BaylisJ 


Notes  sur  les  oiseaux  du  Mont  Inago,  Mozambique  du  nord.  Cet  article  presente  les  principaux 
resultats  du  premier  inventaire  ornithologique  du  Mont  Inago,  au  nord  du  Mozambique,  qui  a eu  lieu  du 
4 au  13  mai  2009.  Ce  massif,  situe  a 50  km  au  nord-est  du  Monr  Namuli,  atteint  une  hauteur  de  plus  de 
1.800  m.  Au  total,  101  especes  ont  ete  observees,  dont  86  dans  le  massif  et  le  reste  dans  les  environs.  Les 
plus  importantes  etaient  l’Alethe  de  Cholo  Alethe  choloensis  (Menacee  d’extinction),  l’Akalat  de  Gunning 
Sheppardia  gunningi  (Quasi  menacee),  l’Aigle  de  Verreaux  Aquila  verreauxi  (apparemment  la  premiere 
donnee  pour  le  Mozambique  du  nord)  et  le  Bruant  du  Cap  Emberiza  capensis  vincenti  (les  premieres 
donnees  pour  le  pays  depuis  la  recolte  originale  en  1936).  La  superficie  de  la  foret  d’Inago  et  sa  repartition 
altitudinale  n’ont  probablement  jamais  ete  tres  etendues,  et  les  defrichements  recents  pour  1’agriculture 
sont  en  train  de  detruire  rapidement  ce  qui  reste.  L’avenir  des  quelques  especes  forestieres  presentes  est 
done  sombre. 

Summary.  The  main  findings  are  given  of  the  first  brief  ornithological  survey  of  Mount  Inago,  northern 
Mozambique.  This  massif,  50  km  north-east  of  Mount  Namuli,  rises  to  over  1,800  m.  One  hundred 
and  one  species  were  recorded  of  which  86  were  found  on  the  massil  itself.  The  most  significant  were 
Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis  (Endangered),  East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunningi  (Near  Threatened), 
Verreaux’s  Eagle  Aquila  verreauxi  (apparently  the  first  record  for  northern  Mozambique)  and  Cape  Bunting 
Emberiza  capensis  vincenti  (the  first  records  from  the  country  since  it  was  originally  collected  in  1936).  The 
area  and  the  altitudinal  range  ot  lorest  on  Inago  historically  seem  unlikely  to  have  been  large,  while  recent 
and  continuing  clearance  for  agriculture  is  rapidly  eliminating  what  remains.  The  future  of  the  relatively 
few  forest-dependent  species  found  therefore  seems  bleak. 


Following  a brief  reconnaissance  visit  the 
previous  year,  in  May  2009  a multi-disciplinary 
team  of  scientists  made  the  First-ever  scientific 
expedition  to  investigate  the  flora  and  fauna  of 
Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique.  Arranged 
and  led  by  JB,  this  visit  was  one  of  a series  of 
explorations  of  biologically  little-  and  unknown 
mountains  of  northern  Mozambique,  organised 
by  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew,  with  funding 
from  the  UK  government’s  Darwin  Initiative. 
The  main  ornithological  results  of  this  visit  are 
presented  here,  and  complement  those  from  two 
of  the  other  expeditions  organised  by  this  project 
which  are  described  in  Dowsett-Lemaire  (2010). 

Mount  Inago  (Serra  Inago)  forms  part  of  an 
extensive  massif  of  undulating,  granitic  domes 
that  rise  to  over  1,800  m immediately  south  of  the 
town  of  Malema  (formally  Entre  Rios)  in  Nampula 
province,  northern  Mozambique,  and  is  situated 
c. 50  km  north-east  of  the  better  known  Mount 
Namuli  (Dowsett-Lemaire  2010).  Between  the 
network  of  inselbergs  runs  a series  of  semi-forested 
valleys  in  which  strips  of  riverine  forest  line  the 
numerous  watercourses  in  valley  bottoms  and, 


in  places,  beside  streams  and  gullies  on  the  sides 
of  the  inselbergs.  The  riverine  forest  grades  into 
mid-altitude,  semi-deciduous  forest  in  parts  of  the 
wider  valley  bottoms,  where  conditions  permit 
(Figs.  1-3).  Both  forest  types  are  under  severe  and 
increasing  pressure  from  the  local  communities 
who  are  clearing  them  for  agriculture,  in  places 
right  up  to  the  streamsides.  Farmed  land  is,  in 
some  areas,  being  abandoned,  at  least  temporarily, 
and  is  covered  with  ‘farmbush’  tangles.  There  are 
also  extensive  areas  of  tall  grassland  which,  in  some 
places,  also  occur  under  areas  of  open  woodland. 
The  inselbergs  themselves  are  sparsely  vegetated 
with  a distinctive  flora  of  low  grassland,  herbs  and 
shrubs,  several  of  them  succulent  or  showing  other 
adaptations  to  the  harsh  conditions  of  the  open 
rock  face.  At  lower  altitudes  there  are  patches  of 
denser  woodland  and  thicket,  particularly  along 
watercourses,  while  the  region  surrounding  the 
massif  supports  savanna  woodland,  including 
miombo,  now  extensively  degraded  or  completely 
cleared  for  agriculture,  such  that  no  intact  areas  of 
any  size  were  seen. 


198 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birds  of  Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique:  Fishpool  & Bayliss 


Figures  1-3.  Landscape  at  Mount  Inago,  northern 
Mozambique,  May  2009  (Fig.  1 by  Julian  Bayliss,  Figs.  2 
and  3 by  Lincoln  Fishpool) 

Paysage  du  Mont  Inago,  Mozambique  du  nord,  mai 
2009  (Fig.  1 de  Julian  Bayliss,  Figs.  2 et  3 de  Lincoln 
Fishpool) 

The  Mount  Inago  area  was  visited  on  4-13 
May  2009.  The  main  campsite  was  located 
at  15°02’42”S  37°23’46”E,  at  1,048  m in  a 

valley  bottom  between  two  inselbergs,  near  the 
confluence  of  two  noisy,  fast-flowing  streams 
beside  which  there  was  a very  narrow  strip  of 
remnant  riverine  forest.  1 he  campsite  itself  was 
on  abandoned  cultivation,  with  areas  of  rank 


secondary  savanna  grassland  nearby;  five  nights 
were  spent  here.  In  addition,  one  night  was  spent 
at  the  'forest  campsite’  (15°04’48”S  37°23’24”E, 
1,478  m),  at  the  foot  of  another  inselberg  within 
a relatively  large  forest  patch,  parts  of  which  were 
being  cleared  for  maize  cultivation,  while  other 
parts  had  been  cleared  in  the  recent  past. 

In  total,  101  species  were  recorded,  of  which 
86  were  found  in  the  massif  complex  itself,  with 
the  remainder  seen  in  nearby  Malema  town  or 
in  the  wider  area.  Since  by  far  the  majority  of 
these  were  common,  widespread  species  whose 
presence  was  unremarkable,  the  full  list  is  not 
presented  here  but  appears  in  Bayliss  et  al.  (2010) 
and  is  available  upon  request  from  the  authors. 
However,  some  species  worthy  of  comment  were 
found  and  since  these  are,  apparently,  the  first 
ornithological  records  from  Mount  Inago,  they  are 
discussed  below.  Further  background  information 
on  Inago,  details  of  the  expedition  itself  and  of  its 
botanical  and  other  zoological  discoveries  are  also 
provided  by  Bayliss  et  al.  (2010).  Notable  among 
the  latter  are  a new  species  of  pygmy  chameleon 
(. Rhampholeon  sp.),  butterfly  ( Cymothoe  sp.), 
freshwater  crab  ( Potamonautes  sp.),  and  a possible 
new  species  of  cycad  ( Encephalartos  sp.). 

Notes  on  selected  species 

Verreaux’s  Eagle  Aquila  verreauxi 
A pair  was  soaring  above  an  inselberg  on  6 May. 
Not  known  from  adjacent  Namuli  (Ryan  et  al. 
1999,  Dowsett-Lemaire  2008)  and  there  seem  to 
be  no  previous  records  from  northern  Mozambique 
(Frade  1933).  It  is  a rare  bird  anywhere  in  the 
country;  Parker  (1999,  2005)  estimated  that  in 
the  south  and  centre  of  Mozambique  there  were 
'possibly  fewer  than  five  breeding  pairs  and 
'6  to  20  breeding  pairs’  respectively.  No  firm 
evidence  was  found  on  Inago  of  the  eagle’s  main 
prey  species,  Rock  Hyrax  Procavia  capensis.  None 
was  heard  calling  which,  if  they  were  present,  is 
surprising,  even  allowing  for  the  volume  of  noise 
from  the  stream  by  the  campsite.  Many  parts  of 
the  domes  were,  however,  littered  with  abundant 
droppings  of  a size  and  shape  that  suggested 
hyrax.  Alternatively,  these  could  have  all  been 
attributable  to  Smith’s  Red  Rock  Hare  Pronolagus 
rupestris,  which  was  seen  on  several  occasions. 


Birds  of  Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique:  Fishpool  & Bayliss 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -199 


Silvery-cheeked  Hornbill  Bycanistes  brevis  / 
Trumpeter  Hornbill  B.  bucinator 
A pair  of  Silvery-cheeked  Hornbills  was  seen 
visiting  forest  remnants  on  three  dates,  whilst  a 
pair  of  Trumpeter  Hornbills  was  recorded  over 
the  main  campsite  twice.  Records  of  these  two 
hornbills  are  of  interest  because  they  are  usually, 
but  not  always,  allopatric  in  Malawi  (Dowsett- 
Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006).  Although  not  seen 
together  on  Inago,  there  was  no  obvious  altitudinal 
or  habitat  separation  between  these  observations; 
the  Trumpeters  were,  however,  only  seen  'passing 
through’  or  along  what  was  in  effect  a narrow 
corridor  between  adjacent  inselbergs. 

Cholo  Alethe  Alethe  choloensis  (Endangered) 

One  was  trapped  in  a mist-net  at  the  forest 
campsite.  Its  occurrence  is  notable  as  being  one  of 
the  few  Afromontane  species  found. 

East  Coast  Akalat  Sheppardia  gunningi  (Near 
Threatened) 

One  was  seen  in  the  forest  remnant  beside  the 
stream  at  the  main  campsite;  two  were  mist-netted 
at  the  forest  campsite.  Not  known  from  adjacent 
Namuli  (Ryan  et  al.  1999,  Dowsett-Lemaire 
2008),  presumably  because  no  forest  now  remains 
there  at  suitable  altitudes. 

Magpie  Mannikin  Spermestes  fringilloides 
Three  individuals  of  this  uncommon  species  were 
seen  together  on  one  occasion  near  the  main 
campsite.  It  is  probably  relevant  that  stands  of  the 
bamboo  Oxytenanthera  were  present  in  the  general 
environs. 

Cape  Bunting  Emberiza  capensis 
A pair  was  seen  on  an  inselberg  close  to  the  main 
campsite  on  three  dates.  With  the  breast  dark 
grey  merging  to  brownish  on  the  belly  and  just 
a small  rufous  patch  on  the  wing-coverts,  these 
were  clearly  of  the  race  vincenti.  Although  quite 
widespread  in  suitable  habitat  in  neighbouring 
Malawi  (Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  2006), 
these  appear  to  be  the  first  records  of  vincenti  in 
Mozambique  since  the  type  series  was  collected  at 
Zobue  on  the  Malawi  border,  west  of  Blantyre, 
with  others  from  Mirrote  (13°50’S  39°34’E), 
c.265  km  north-east  of  Inago  (Vincent  1936). 
This  is  contra  Fry  (2004)  who — treating  vincenti 
as  a species  separate  from  capensis — states  that 


there  are  records  of  it  from  Mangochi  Mts.  {sic) 
on  both  sides  of  the  Malawi/  Mozambique  border, 
referencing  Hall  & Moreau  (1970)  as  the  source. 
Since,  however,  nothing  in  Hall  & Moreau 
(1970)  explicitly  supports  records  from  this  part 
of  Mozambique  and  as,  moreover,  Mangochi 
Mountain  (singular)  lies  entirely  within  Malawi 
(F.  Dowsett-Lemaire  in  litt.  2010),  this  appears 
to  be  an  error. 

While  therefore  not  yet  reported  from  adjacent 
Namuli  or  nearby  Mabu  (Ryan  et  al.  1999, 
Dowsett-Lemaire  2008,  2010),  ir  is  probably 
more  widespread  in  the  region,  given  the  amount 
of  suitable  habitat. 

Discussion 

The  discovery  of  East  Coast  Akalat  on  Mabu 
(Spottiswoode  et  al.  2008,  Dowsett-Lemaire  2010) 
and  now  at  Inago  suggests  that  it  may  be  relatively 
widespread  in  this  part  of  Mozambique — or, 
rather,  may  have  been.  Given  the  rate  of  forest 
destruction  witnessed,  the  future  of  this  and  other 
forest-dependent  species,  including  Cholo  Alethe, 
on  Inago,  is  bleak.  If  true  of  other  areas  of  remnant 
forest  at  comparable  altitudes  associated  with  a 
number  of  as  yet  unexplored  inselbergs  in  the 
area,  then  Dowsett-Lemaire’s  (2010)  assessment 
of  the  importance  of  the  population  on  Mabu  is 
correct. 

The  few  forest-dependent  species  found 
included  White-eared  Barbet  Stactolaema  leucotis , 
Little  Greenbul  Andropadus  virens,  Grey-olive 
Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  cerviniventris , Cabanis’s 
Greenbul  P.  cabanisi,  Yellow-streaked  Greenbul  P. 
flavostriatus , Blue-mantled  Flycatcher  Trochocercus 
cyanomelas  and  Square-tailed  Drongo  Dicrurus 
ludwigii.  Black-headed  Apalis  Apalis  melanocephala , 
another  forest  species,  also  occurred,  sharing  its 
habitat  with  Yellow-breasted  Apalis  A.  flavida,  the 
presence  of  which  suggests  (but  does  not  eliminate 
the  possibility)  that  Namuli  Apalis  A.  ( thoracica ) 
lynesi  does  not  occur  on  Inago,  although  Namuli 
is  just  c.50  km  distant. 

The  much  lower  altitudes  of  the  forest 
on  Inago  probably  explain  this  absence.  It  is 
perhaps  telling  that,  apart  from  Cholo  Alethe, 
the  only  other  Afromontane  species  recorded 
were  Cabanis’s  Greenbul,  Swee  Waxbill  Estrilda 
melanotis  and  African  Citril  Serinus  citrinelloides. 
Indeed,  although  this  visit  was  so  brief  that  it 
is  extremely  improbable  that  a full  inventory 


Birds  of  Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique:  Fishpool  & Bayliss 


200 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


of  die  species  of  Inago  has  been  made,  the  size, 
topography  and  altitudinal  range  of  the  massif 
means  that  the  extent  of  forest  here,  particularly 
at  higher  altitudes,  can  never  have  been  large, 
and  it  is  therefore  likely  that  the  forest-dependent 
avifauna  was  correspondingly  limited. 

Such  was  the  extent  of  forest  destruction  seen 
on  Inago  that,  in  truth,  we  were  rather  relieved 
not  to  find  additional  forest-dependent  species. 
While  Bayliss  et  al.  (2010)  make  a number  of 
recommendations  for  promoting  the  conservation 
of  what  forest  remains,  the  urgency  of  the  case, 
coupled  with  other  demands  for  conservation 
effort  in  the  region,  means  that  the  chances  of 
them  being  realised,  regrettably,  appear  remote. 

Acknowledgements 

The  expedition  formed  part  of  the  British  government- 
funded  Darwin  Initiative  project  ‘Monitoring  and 
Managing  Biodiversity  Loss  on  South-East  Africa’s 
Montane  Ecosystems’  (Award  15/036).  This 
collaborative  project,  led  by  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens, 
Kew,  also  included  BirdLife  International,  the  Instituto 
de  Investigagao  Agraria  de  Mozambique,  the  Mulanje 
Mountain  Conservation  Trust,  Malawi,  and  the  Forest 
Research  Institute  of  Malawi.  The  African  Butterfly 
Research  Institute,  Nairobi,  also  participated  in  this 
expedition,  and  provided  some  of  the  funding.  Thanks 
go  to  Hassan  Patel  for  assistance  in  the  field,  to  Mark 
Balman  and  Graeme  Buchanan  for  the  provision  and 
interpretation  of  satellite  imagery,  and  to  Franqoise 
Dowsett-Lemaire  for  advice  on  the  preparation  of  this 
note  and  help  with  some  references. 

References 

Bayliss,  J.,  Monteiro,  J.,  Fishpool,  L.,  Congdon, 
C.,  Bampton,  I.,  Bruessow,  C.  & Timberlake, 
J.  2010.  Biodiversity  and  conservation  of  Inago 
Mountain  Mozambique.  Rep.  produced  under 
the  Darwin  Initiative  Award  15/036.  Mulanje 
Mountain  Conservation  Trust,  Malawi. 
Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  2008.  Survey  of  birds  on  Namuli 
Mountain  (Mozambique),  November  2007,  with 
notes  on  vegetation  and  mammals.  Dowsett- 
Lemaire  Misc.  Rep.  no.  60.  Rep.  for  Darwin 
Initiative  Award  15/036.  http://www.kew.org/ 
science/directory/projects/annex/ namuli-birds- 
Dowsett.pdf 


Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  2010.  Further  ornithological 
exploration  of  Namuli  and  Mabu  Mountains 
(northern  Mozambique),  and  the  urgent  need  for 
the  conservation  of  their  forests.  Bull.  ABC  17: 
159-177. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  & Dowsett,  R.  J.  2006.  The  Birds 
of  Malawi.  Liege:  Tauraco  Press  & Aves. 

Frade,  F.  1953  (1951).  Catalogo  das  aves  de 
Mozambique.  An.  Junt.  Invest.  Colon.  6(4):  1-294. 
Fry,  C.  H.  2004.  Emberiza  vincenti.  In  Fry,  C.  H.  & 
Keith,  S.  (eds.)  The  Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.7.  London, 
UK:  Christopher  Flelm. 

Hall,  B.  P.  & Moreau,  R.  E.  1970.  An  Atlas  of 
Speciation  in  African  Passerine  Birds.  London,  UK: 
Br.  Mus.  (Nat.  Hist.). 

Parker,  V.  1999.  The  Atlas  of  the  Birds  of  Sul  do 
Save,  Southern  Mozambique.  Cape  Town:  Avian 
Demography  Unit  & Johannesburg:  Endangered 
Wildlife  Trust. 

Parker,  V.  2005.  The  Atlas  of  the  Birds  of  Central 
Mozambique.  Johannesburg:  Endangered  Wildlife 
Trust  & Cape  Town:  Avian  Demography  Unit. 
Ryan,  P.  G.,  Bento,  C.,  Cohen,  C.,  Graham,  J.,  Parker, 
V.  & Spottiswoode,  C.  1999.  The  avifauna  and 
conservation  status  of  the  Namuli  Massif,  northern 
Mozambique.  Bird  Conserv.  Intern.  9:  315-331. 
Spottiswoode,  C.  N.,  Patel,  I.  H.,  Herrmann,  E., 
Timberlake,  J.  & Bayliss,  J.  2008.  Threatened  bird 
species  on  two  little-known  mountains  (Chiperone 
and  Mabu)  in  northern  Mozambique.  Ostrich  79: 
1-7. 

Vincent,  J.  1936.  The  birds  of  Northern  Portuguese 
East  Africa.  Comprising  a list  of,  and  observations 
on,  the  collections  made  during  the  British  Museum 
Expedition  of  1931-32.  Ibis  (13)6:  48-125. 

“BirdLife  International,  Wellbrook  Court,  Girton  Road, 
Cambridge  CB3  ONA,  UK.  E-mail:  lincoln.fishpool@ 
birdlife.org 

bMulanje  Mountain  Conservation  Trust  (MMCT),  PO 
Box  139,  Mulanje,  Malawi  and  Conservation  Science 
Group,  Department  of  Zoology,  University  of  Cambridge, 
Downing  Street,  CB2  3EJ,  UK.  E-mail:  jlbayliss@yahoo. 
co.  uk 

Received  4 May  2010;  revision  accepted  11  June 

2010. 


Birds  of  Mount  Inago,  northern  Mozambique:  Fishpool  & Bayliss 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 201 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  Numenius  tenuirostris  in  Africa 


Graeme  Buchanan",  Nicola  Crockford'  and  Adam  Gretton1’ 


Le  Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius  tenuirostris  en  Afrique.  La  derniere  observation  du  Courlis  a bee  grele 

Numenius  tenuirostris,  une  espece  consideree  comme  « Gravement  menace  d’extinction  »,  date  d’avril  2001 
en  Hongrie.  L’article  passe  en  revue  les  mentions  du  courlis  en  Afrique  du  Nord  et  ailleurs  en  Afrique 
(Seychelles,  Djibouti,  Soudan,  Chad,  Gambie),  en  se  basant  sur  les  donnees  rassemblees  par  le  Groupe  de 
travail  du  Courlis  a bee  grele  (http://www.slenderbilledcurlew.net),  afin  d’identifier  les  zones  potentielles 
ou  chercher  l’espece  et  la  meilleure  periode  pour  le  faire. 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  Numenius 
tenuirostris  (Fig.  1)  is  a Critically  Endangered 
species  and  the  only  ‘lost'  species  in  the  Western 
Palaearctic,  with  no  verified  records  for  almost  a 
decade  (the  Hungarian  Rarities  Committee  has 
accepted  a record  from  April  2001  in  Kiskunsag 
National  Park:  Olah  & Pigniczki  in  press).  The 
population  has  declined  dramatically  over  the 
past  century,  with  loss  of  habitat  and  hunting 
pressure  considered  the  key  likely  causes  (BirdLife 
International  2009a).  The  only  verified  breeding 
site,  recorded  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  20th 
century,  is  north  ol  Omsk,  in  southern  Siberia 
(Gretton  et  al.  2002).  There  are  passage,  and 
other  non-breeding  season  records  of  the  species 
from  across  Europe  (Delany  et  al.  2009).  Whilst 
there  are  also  a few  non-breeding  records  from  the 


Middle  East,  North  Africa  is  the  main  known  non- 
breeding area  for  Slender-billed  Curlew.  Indeed, 
the  species  was  first  described  from  a specimen 
shot  in  Egypt  in  1817. 

The  best  known  site  for  the  Slender-billed 
Curlew  is  Merja  Zerga,  in  Morocco,  where  birds 
were  regularly  recorded  between  the  1950s  and 
February  1995  (Fig.  2),  since  when  there  have 
been  no  confirmed  sightings  in  North  Africa. 
However,  the  species  might  still  be  present  in  the 
region,  given  that  two  much  more  conspicuous 
globally  threatened  bird  populations  have  recently 
been  discovered  within  the  range  of  the  Slender- 
billed  Curlew,  namely  those  of  Sociable  Lapwing 
Vanellus  gregarius  (BirdLife  International  2009b) 
and,  in  Syria,  the  only  natural  breeding  colony 
of  Northern  Bald  Ibis  Geronticus  eremita  outside 


Figure  1.  Slender-billed  Curlew  Numenius  tenuirostris  (left)  with  Eurasian  Curlew  N.  arquata  orientals  in  Yemen, 
October  1984  (Richard  Porter) 

Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius  tenuirostris  (a  gauche)  avec  Courlis  cendre  N.  arquata  orientals  au  Yemen,  octobre  1984 
(Richard  Porter) 


202  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  in  Africa:  Buchanan  et  al. 


Figure  2.  Slender-billed  Curlews  Numenius  tenuirostris  in 
Morocco,  January  1994  (Brayton  Hole) 

Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius  tenuirostris  au  Maroc, 
janvier  1994  (Brayton  Holt) 

Morocco  (BirdLife  International  2009c).  Here 
we  review  records  of  Slender-billed  Curlew  in 
North  Africa,  together  with  a few  records  from 
outlying  countries  (Seychelles,  Djibouti,  Sudan, 
Chad,  Gambia),  based  on  records  collated  by  the 
Slender-billed  Curlew  Working  Group  (http:// 
www.slenderbilledcurlew.net).  We  do  so  in  order 
to  identify  potential  areas  for  searches,  and  the 
optimum  time  to  visit  these  locations. 

Geographic  distribution  of  Slender-billed 
Curlew  records 

The  distribution  of  records  from  North  Africa 
by  year  (each  location  in  each  year  counted 
only  once,  even  if  birds  were  recorded  multiple 
times)  indicates  that  the  number  of  records  of 
Slender-billed  Curlew  slowly  increased  during 
the  20th  century  (Fig.  3),  especially  after  1970. 
This  increase  was  probably  the  result  of  a greater 
awareness  of  the  species,  plus  the  greater  number 
of  experienced  European  birdwatchers  travelling 
to  North  Africa.  However,  the  number  of  records 
then  crashes  post-1995. 

Despite  the  popularity  of  one  site  (Merja  Zerga 
in  Morocco)  at  this  time,  it  is  notable  that  a large 
number  of  records  came  from  elsewhere  during 
the  period  between  1970  and  2000.  This  suggests 
that,  while  it  held  the  largest  known  population 
(up  to  12  birds  in  some  years),  it  was  not  the  only 
area  where  birds  were  recorded  in  North  Africa  at 
this  time.  The  majority  of  records  (each  location 
in  each  year  counted  only  once,  even  if  birds  were 
recorded  multiple  times)  of  Slender-billed  Curlew 
in  North  Africa  come  from  Morocco  (Figs.  4-5). 
The  majority  of  sightings  are  from  Merja  Zerga, 
but  even  this  well-watched  site  only  accounted  for 


Figure  3.  Distribution  of  Slender-billed  Curlew 
Numenius  tenuirostris  records  in  North  Africa  by  year 
since  1850.  Record  defined  as  a sighting  in  a location  in 
a year.  Black  = unverified  records;  grey  = verified  records; 
pale  grey  = records  from  Merja  Zerga,  Morocco. 

Repartition  des  donnees  du  Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius 
tenuirostris  en  Afrique  du  Nord  par  annee  depuis  1850. 
Donnee  definie  comme  une  observation  en  une  localite 
en  une  annee.  Noir  = donnees  non  verifiees  ; gris  = 
donnees  verifiees  ; gris  hachure  = donnees  de  Merja 
Zerga,  Maroc. 


Figure  4.  Distribution  of  Slender-billed  Curlew 
Numenius  tenuirostris  records  in  African  countries  since 
1850.  Record  defined  as  sighting  in  a location  in  a year. 
Black  = unverified  records;  grey  = verified  records;  pale 
grey  = records  from  Merja  Zerga,  Morocco. 

Repartition  des  donnees  du  Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius 
tenuirostris  en  Afrique  par  annee  depuis  1850.  Donnee 
definie  comme  une  observation  en  une  localite  en  une 
annee.  Noir  = donnees  non  verifiees  ; gris  = donnees 
verifiees  ; gris  hachure  = donnees  de  Merja  Zerga,  Maroc. 

some  21%  of  the  Moroccan  records.  Tunisia  had 
the  next  largest  number  of  records  after  Morocco, 
with  the  majority  of  these  coming  from  the  area 
around  Kairouan,  Metbassta. 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  in  Africa:  Buchanan  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 203 


Figure  5.  Distribution  of  accepted  Slender-billed  Curlew  Numenius  tenuirostris  records  in  North  Africa  between  1900 
and  2000. 


Repartition  des  donnees  acceptees  du  Courlis  a bee  grele  Numenius  tenuirostris  en  Afrique  du  Nord  entre  1900  et  2000. 


□ Pfe  1900  ■ 1 900  - 1920  0 1921  - 1940  o 1941  - 1960  o 1961  - 1980  0 1981  - present 


Figure  6.  Distribution  of  confirmed  Slender-billed 
Curlew  Numenius  tenuirostris  records  in  North  Africa  by 
month  since  1850,  subdivided  by  20-year  time  periods. 

Repartition  des  donnees  acceptees  du  Courlis  a bee  grele 
Numenius  tenuirostris  en  Afrique  du  Nord  par  mois 
depuis  1850,  subdivisees  par  periodes  de  20  ans. 

The  distribution  of  records  will  reflect  the 
distribution  of  observers,  with  the  best-known  sites 
being  better  watched.  The  paucity  of  records  from 
Libya  and  Algeria  might  therefore  be  misleading, 
and  these  countries  could  potentially  have  held 
non-breeding  populations  too.  In  addition  to 
possible  records  from  the  Red  Sea  coasts  of  Sudan 


and  Djibouti,  outlying  reports  come  from  inland 
Chad,  with  a couple  of  records  from  Seychelles. 
There  are  further  records  from  Lanzarote,  in  the 
Canaries,  and  two  undocumented  reports  from 
The  Gambia. 

Behaviour  in  North  Africa 

The  majority  of  records  of  Slender-billed  Curlew 
in  North  Africa  appear  to  be  close  to  the  sea 
(Fig.  5).  Indeed,  91.5%  of  the  142  sites  with 
Slender-billed  Curlew  records  are  within  1 km  of 
the  coast.  Unfortunately,  it  is  difficult  to  assess 
the  habitats  at  these  sites  since  land  cover  might 
have  changed  during  the  intervening  period,  but 
analysis  based  on  land  cover  type  within  1 km  of 
sightings,  using  GlobCover  2005  (ESA  2009), 
indicates  that  the  major  habitat  was  open  water, 
covering  some  29.5%  of  the  area.  Mosaics  of 
grasslands  and  arable  covered  26%,  whilst  sparse 
vegetation  or  bare  areas  covered  8%  each. 

The  predominance  ol  open  water  could  partly 
reflect  the  tendency  of  birdwatchers  to  focus  on 
such  areas,  whereas  observations  of  the  Merja 
Zerga  birds  suggest  that  they  would  often  feed  on 
dry  sandy  farmland  1-2  km  from  the  wetland,  as 
well  as  sometimes  using  grazed  marshy  areas  closer 
to  the  lagoon.  There  was  a striking  difference  in 


204  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  in  A frica:  Buchanan  et  al. 


habitat  use  between  years:  in  the  non-breeding 
season  of  1987—88,  most  toraging  was  in  the 
brackish  grazed  marsh  close  to  the  lagoon,  but  in 
subsequent  years  the  birds  usually  fed  on  the  higher 
sandy  land  further  from  the  lagoon.  This  area  was 
a mixture  of  cultivated  arable  strips  and  fallow 
areas,  and  was  used  by  feeding  Eurasian  Curlew 
Numenius  arquata,  with  which  the  Slender-billed 
Curlews  associated  (together  with  Black-tailed 
Godwits  Limosa  limosa).  The  mudflats  of  the 
lagoon  itself  were  used  by  roosting  Slender-billed 
Curlews,  usually  together  with  Eurasian  Curlew.  At 
Merja  Zerga  the  Slender-billed  Curlews  generally 
had  a regular  pattern,  feeding  for  2-4  hours  after 
dawn,  then  roosting  in  the  lagoon,  before  feeding 
again  from  mid-afternoon  until  near  dusk,  when 
they  again  roosted  in  the  lagoon  (Gretton  1991). 
In  this  situation,  it  would  be  extremely  unlikely 
that  a survey  between  approximately  10.00  hrs 
and  15.00  hrs  would  have  detected  the  birds,  and 
we  recommend  this  be  taken  into  account  at  sites 
where  a similar  pattern  could  apply. 

Temporal  distribution  of  records 

The  majority  of  records  in  North  Africa  over  the 
years  have  consistently  come  from  January  (Fig.  6), 
with  just  under  50%  of  records  in  December  and 
February.  There  are  few  records  between  March 
and  September,  which  is  when  birds  are  either  on 
passage  through  Europe  or  at  the  breeding  sites. 
Birds  appear  to  start  returning  to  some  sites  at 
least  as  early  as  September,  with  similar  numbers 
in  October.  Oddly,  all  records  from  November 
come  from  post- 1981,  even  though  records  in 
surrounding  months  come  from  all  time  periods. 

Slender-billed  Curlew  conservation 

Finding  the  areas  used  by  Slender-billed  Curlews 
through  the  year  is  a priority  lor  their  conservation. 
Conservation  efforts  are  being  led  by  the  Slender- 
billed  Curlew  Working  Group,  founded  under  the 
framework  of  an  international  Memorandum  ol 
Understanding  for  the  species  under  the  United 
Nations  Convention  on  Migratory  Species.  To 
help  find  areas  where  the  bird  still  occurs,  a 
top  priority  of  the  Group  is  to  encourage  a 
search  of  the  potential  non-breeding  range  of  the 
species,  which  extends  across  North  Africa  to  the 
Middle  East,  and  beyond  (if  subsequent  research 
narrows  the  search  for  the  breeding  grounds, 
then  the  search  could  be  extended  there  too). 


If  appropriate,  any  birds  that  are  found  will  be 
caught  and  satellite-tagged.  The  satellite  tags  will 
help  locate  the  key  sites  for  the  bird  throughout  its 
annual  cycle  and  thus  enable  urgent  conservation 
action  to  be  taken.  The  main  focus  of  the  search 
is  on  the  known  non-breeding  and  potential 
moult  sites  because  it  is  more  likely  that  birds 
will  be  present  long  enough  to  enable  catching 
and  tagging.  The  priority  is  to  search  sites  where 
the  species  has  previously  been  recorded,  but 
also  to  check  those  with  similar  characteristics  to 
historical  sites.  A protocol  on  search  methodology 
has  been  produced  to  provide  guidance  to  those 
joining  the  search  (www.slenderbilledcurlew.net). 
We  encourage  observers,  whether  local  or  through 
expeditions,  to  check  potential  areas.  Areas  of 
potentially  suitable  habitat  could  be  identified 
using  Google  Earth  prior  to  undertaking  field 
work.  Furthermore,  to  help  narrow  the  search, 
observers  are  requested  to  submit  any  past  records, 
including  any  ‘possible’  sightings. 

Conclusion 

Based  on  a broad-scale  examination  of  the  database 
of  historical  records,  and  a detailed  review  of  key 
historical  sites  for  Slender-billed  Curlew,  we  have 
identified  those  site  characteristics  that  could  be 
useful  in  targeting  field  surveys  in  the  search  for 
the  species’  non-breeding  areas  in  North  Africa. 
Because  Slender-billed  Curlew  poses  identification 
challenges  and  because  its  habitat  might  include 
inland  feeding  areas  that  do  not  tend  to  be 
frequented  by  birders,  and  inaccessible  inter-tidal 
roost  areas  out  of  range  of  most  observers,  there 
is  a real  chance  that  it  has  been  overlooked.  We 
suggest  that  surveys  should  be  targeted  on  areas  of 
the  North  African  coast,  from  Morocco  to  Egypt, 
within  a couple  of  kilometres  of  the  coastline. 
Large-scale  habitat  analysis  does  not  particularly 
limit  areas  to  be  searched,  but  historical  records 
suggest  attention  should  focus  on  lagoons  and 
estuaries,  and  areas  of  adjacent  feeding  habitat 
(not  just  wetlands,  bearing  in  mind  the  preference 
for  dry  sandy  feeding  areas  at  Merja  Zerga).  It 
is  of  paramount  importance  that  any  records  of 
birds  that  could  still  be  present  in  the  field  are 
immediately  reported  to  the  Working  Group  to 
facilitate  rapid  reaction  to  help  verify  the  record 
and  undertake  conservation  action,  including 
fitting  a satellite  tag. 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  in  Africa:  Buchanan  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 205 


Please  send  records/digital  images/sound 
recordings  etc  immediately  to  the  Slender- 
billed  Curlew  Working  Group  Coordinator: 
timcleeves@yahoo.  co.uk,  mobile  +44 
7920050670,  11  Plessey  Crescent,  Whitley 
Bay,  Tyne  & Wear  NE25  8QJ,  UK,  and 
the  Slender-billed  Working  Group  Chair 
Nicola.crockford@rspb.org.uk,  tel.  +44  1767 
680551. 

Acknowledgements 

Thanks  to  all  ol  the  observers  who  have  submitted 
details  to  the  SBCWG  database,  and  all  those  who  have 
helped  manage  it,  including  R.  Ahmed,  J.  Hatt  and 
I.  Fisher.  We  thank  Tim  Dodman  for  comments  on 
an  earlier  version  ol  this  text,  and  Richard  Porter  and 
Brayton  Holt  for  their  images. 

References 

BirdLife  International.  2009a.  Species  factsheet: 
Numenius  tenuirostris.  www.birdlife.org  (accessed  2 
November  2009). 

BirdLife  International.  2009b.  Species  factsheet: 
Vanellus  gregarius.  www.birdlife.org  (accessed  2 
November  2009). 


BirdLife  International.  2009c.  Species  factsheet: 
Geronticus  eremita.  www.birdlife.org  (accessed  2 
November  2009). 

Delany,  S.,  Dodman,  T.,  Stroud,  D.  & Scott,  D.  2009. 
An  Atlas  of  Wader  Populations  in  Africa  and  Western 
Eurasia.  Wageningen:  Wetlands  International. 

ESA.  2009.  GlobCover  Project,  led  by  MEDIAS- 
France.  http://ionial .esrin.esa.int/index.asp. 

Gretton,  A.,  Yurlov,  A.  K.  & Boere,  G.  C.  2002.  Where 
does  the  Slender-billed  Curlew  nest  and  what 
future  does  it  have?  Br.  Birds  95:  334-344. 

Gretton,  A.  1991.  The  Ecology  and  Conservation  of 
the  Slender-billed  Curlew.  Cambridge,  UK: 
International  Council  for  Bird  Preservation. 

Olah,  J.  & Pigniczki,  C.  in  press.  The  first  XXIst 
century  record  of  Slender-billed  Curlew  ( Numenius 
tenuirostris ) in  Hungary.  Aquila  116. 

" Royal  Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds,  The  Lodge, 

Sandy,  Bedfordshire  SGI  9 2DL,  UK. 

bCosford  Hall,  Ivy  Tree  Lane,  Hadleigh,  Suffolk  LP7 

6DR. 

Received  4 November  2009. 


Birding  & Beyond  Safaris 
Tanzania  Birding 

A specialised  bird  watching  safari  operator  providing 
East  African  safaris  to  Tanzania,  Kenya  and  Uganda. 
Operating  big  game  and  professional  bird  photographic 
safaris  for  individuals,  small  groups  and  families. 

P.O.  Box  11500  Arusha,  Tanzania 
Tel:  +255  754  286058 
tours@tanzaniabirding.com 
www.tanzaniabirding.com 


206  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


The  Slender-billed  Curlew  in  Afiica:  Buchanan  et  al. 


Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  x Common  Moorhen 
Gallinula  chloropus  on  Tenerife,  Canary  Islands 

Beneharo  Rodriguez!1,  Juan  Curbelob  and  Nazaret  Carrasco1' 


Un  hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule  poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus  a Tenerife, 
lies  Canaries.  Le  premier  hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule  poule-d  eau  Gallinula 
chloropus  de  Tenerife,  lies  Canaries,  a ete  photographic  en  octobre  2009— janvier  2010.  L’hybride  etait  un 
peu  plus  grand  qu  une  foulque  et  ne  possedait  pas  de  ligne  blanche  le  long  des  flancs,  mais  le  plumage 
et  le  bee  avaient  la  couleur  et  le  pattern  d une  poule  dean.  Ceci  correspond  avec  la  coloration  et  les 
caracteristiques  morphologiques  des  hybrides  observes  sur  differents  sites  en  Europe. 


Hybrids  of  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  and 
Common  Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus  have 
been  reported  from  several  sites  in  Europe  (see 
van  Balen  et  al.  2001  and  references  therein).  All 
described  individuals  were  quite  similar,  usually 
having  the  size  of  a coot  and  lacking  any  white  on 
the  flanks,  but  having  the  bill  colour  and  pattern, 
white  undertail  and  green  legs  of  a moorhen  (e.g. 
Flower  1983,  van  Balen  et  al.  2001,  McCarthy 
2006).  Some  hybrids  can  resemble  American  Coot 
F.  americana  (Moore  & Piotrowski  1983).  These 
features  should  permit  observers  to  distinguish 
hybrids  from  any  other  rail  species  (Taylor 
1996). 

On  23  October  2009,  we  observed  a hybrid 
Eurasian  Coot  x Common  Moorhen  at  a large 
water  reservoir  (125  x 60  m)  with  vertical  concrete 
sides  at  Los  Silos,  north-west  Tenerife,  in  the 
Canary  Islands.  It  was  in  the  company  of  an 
adult  Eurasian  Coot  and  an  adult  and  a juvenile 


Common  Moorhen.  The  hybrid  was  slightly 
larger  than  a coot  and  had  the  colour  pattern  of  a 
moorhen  but  lacked  the  white  line  on  the  flanks 
(Figs.  1-6).  The  bill  was  similar  in  shape  to  a 
coot’s  (with  a black  wedge  in  front  of  the  eye), 
but  had  the  typical  yellow-and-red  pattern  of  a 
moorhen,  although  the  ‘red’  was  more  orange. 
The  legs,  observed  briefly  when  the  bird  was 
preening  or  flying,  were  greenish  like  those  of  a 
moorhen  but  the  toes  had  enlarged  lateral  lobes 
as  in  a coot  (Fig.  4).  The  wing-coverts  lacked  any 
white,  but  the  secondaries  were  browner  than  the 
back  (Figs.  1-3). 

In  total  we  spent  more  than  four  hours 
observing  and  photographing  the  hybrid  during 
several  visits  in  October  2009-January  2010. 
Several  moorhens  and  coots  were  always  present, 
and  usually  all  of  the  birds  remained  close 
together. 


Figures  1-2.  Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  x Common  Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  Canary 
Islands,  January  2010  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 

Hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule  poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  lies  Canaries, 
janvier  2010  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 


Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  x Common  Moorhen  in  Tenerife:  Rodriguez  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 207 


Figures  3-4.  Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  x Common  Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus  with  adult  Common 
Moorhen,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  Canary  Islands,  January  2010  (left)  and  October  2009;  note  the  hybrid’s  large  size,  the 
lack  of  white  on  the  flanks,  and  the  green  legs  and  lobed  toes  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 

Hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule  poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus  a cote  d'une  Gallinule  poule- 
d’eau  adulte,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  lies  Canaries,  janvier  2010  (a  gauche)  et  octobre  2009  (Beneharo  Rodriguez).  Noter  la 
grande  taille  de  l’hybride,  l’absence  de  ligne  blanche  le  long  des  flancs,  et  les  pattes  vertes  aux  orteils  pourvus  de  lobes. 


Figure  5.  Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  x Common 
Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus  with  adult  Eurasian  Coot 
and  adult  Common  Moorhen,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife, 
Canary  Islands,  January  2010  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 

Hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule 
poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus  a cote  d une  Foulque 
macroule  et  une  Gallinule  poule-d’eau  adultes,  Los 
Silos,  Tenerife,  lies  Canaries,  janvier  2010  (Beneharo 
Rodriguez) 

Figure  6 (above  right).  Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica 
atra  x Common  Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus  with  adult 
Eurasian  Coot,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  Canary  Islands, 
October  2009  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 

Hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule 
poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus  a cote  d une  Foulque 
macroule  adulte,  Los  Silos,  Tenerife,  lies  Canaries, 
octobre  2009  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 


Figure  7.  Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  Fulica  atra  x Common 
Moorhen  Gallinula  chloropus,  Tejina  ponds,  Tenerife, 
Canary  Islands,  February  2010  (Beneharo  Rodriguez) 

Hybride  de  Foulque  macroule  Fulica  atra  x Gallinule 
poule-d’eau  Gallinula  chloropus,  etangs  de  Tejina, 
Tenerife,  lies  Canaries,  fevrier  2010  (Beneharo 
Rodriguez) 


208  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  x Common  Moorhen  in  Tenerife:  Rodriguez  et  al. 


We  have  noted  at  least  one  breeding  attempt 
by  a pair  of  Common  Moorhens  on  this  reservoir, 
in  August  2008,  but  none  by  Eurasian  Coot, 
although  individuals  of  the  latter  species  are 
usually  present,  especially  in  winter  (pers.  obs.).  At 
other  sites  on  Tenerife  (e.g.  Erjos,  Tejina  ponds) 
and  elsewhere  in  the  Canaries  both  species  breed 
in  close  proximity,  despite  behaving  aggressively 
towards  each  other  (Fernandez  del  Castillo  2007, 
Barone  & Lorenzo  2007).  On  21  February  2010, 
we  found  a hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  x Common 
Moorhen  apparently  identical  to  the  Los  Silos 
hybrid  at  Tejina  ponds,  north-east  Tenerife,  >47 
km  from  the  first  site  (Fig.  7).  As  we  did  not 
observe  the  bird  there  during  subsequent  visits,  we 
suspect  that  it  was  the  Los  Silos  individual. 

The  hybrid  documented  here  is  apparently 
the  first  for  the  Canaries  (Martin  & Lorenzo 
2001,  Clarke  2006),  which  is  the  western  limit  of 
Palearctic  breeding  populations  of  both  Eurasian 
Coot  and  Common  Moorhen.  Because  hybrids 
are  very  conspicuous  (Randier  2004),  the  previous 
lack  of  observations  in  the  islands  could  reflect 
the  limited  number  of  observers,  the  two  species’ 
small  breeding  populations  (Tenerife  has  c.50 
breeding  pairs  of  Eurasian  Coot  and  50-100  pairs 
of  Common  Moorhen),  or  their  slight  differences 
in  breeding  habitat  (more  open  wetlands  for 
Eurasian  Coot,  small  ponds  with  vegetated  shores 
for  Common  Moorhen:  Sanchez-Zapata  et  al. 
2005,  Barone  & Lorenzo  2007,  Fernandez  del 
Castillo  2007),  limiting  the  opportunity  for  mixed 
pairings  (Randier  2006). 

Acknowledgements 

We  are  grateful  to  Airam  Rodriguez  for  helping  us  to 
photograph  the  birds,  and  to  Ruben  Barone,  Bas  van 
Balen,  Harvey  van  Diek  and  Ron  Demey  for  suggesting 
improvements  to  an  earlier  draft  of  this  note. 


References 

van  Balen,  J.  H.,  Perdeck,  A.  C.  & van  Diek,  H.  2001 . 
Hybridisatie  tussen  Waterhoen  en  Meerkoet.  Dutch 
Birdingiy.  196-203. 

Barone,  R.  & Lorenzo,  J.  A.  2007.  Focha  comun 
Fulica  atra.  In  Lorenzo,  J.  A.  (ed.)  Atlas  de  las  Aves 
Nidificantes  en  el  Archipielago  Canario.  Madrid: 
Direccion  General  de  Conservacion  de  la  Naturaleza 
& Sociedad  Espanola  de  Ornitologia. 

Clarke,  T.  2006.  Field  Guide  to  the  Birds  of  the  Atlantic 
Islands.  London,  UK:  Christopher  Helm. 

Fernandez  del  Castillo,  M.  2007.  Gallineta  comun 
Gallinula  chloropus.  In  Lorenzo,  J.  A.  (ed.)  Atlas 
de  las  Aves  Nidificantes  en  el  Archipielago  Canario. 
Madrid:  Direccion  General  de  Conservacion  de  la 
Naturaleza  & Sociedad  Espanola  de  Ornitologia. 

Flower,  G.  1983.  Hybrid  Coot  x Moorhen  in  North 
Yorkshire.  Br.  Birds  76:  409-410. 

Martin,  A.  & Lorenzo,  J.  A.  2001.  Aves  del  Archipielago 
Canario.  La  Laguna:  Ed.  Lemus. 

McCarthy,  E.  M.  2006.  Handbook  of  Avian  Hybrids  of 
the  World.  New  York:  Oxford  University  Press. 

Moore,  D.  R.  & Piotrowski,  S.  J.  1983.  Hybrid  Coot 
x Moorhen  resembling  American  Coot  in  Suffolk. 
Br.  Birds  76:  407-409. 

Randier,  C.  2004.  Frequency  of  bird  hybrids:  does 
detectability  make  all  the  difference?  J.  Ornithol. 

145:  123-128. 

Randier,  C.  2006.  Behavioural  and  ecological  correlates 
of  natural  hybridisation  in  birds.  Ibis  148:  459 — 
467. 

Taylor,  P.  B.  1996.  Family  Rallidae  (rails,  gallinules 
and  coots).  In  del  Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Sargatal, 
J.  (eds.)  Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  3. 
Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

" La  Malecita  s/n,  38480  Buenavista  del  Norte,  Tenerife, 

Canary  Islands,  Spain.  E-mail:  benerguez@terra.  es 

bAjoque,  N°  8,  38480  Buenavista  del  Norte,  Tenerife, 

Canary  Islands,  Spain. 

Received  3 December  2009;  revision  accepted  6 June 

2010. 


Hybrid  Eurasian  Coot  x Common  Moorhen  in  Tenerife:  Rodriguez  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 209 


Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  in  the  Mandara 
Mountains,  north-east  Nigeria:  a new  subspecies? 

Jacinta  I.  A balakcf,  Ulf  Ottosson",  Talatu  Tend?'  and  Keith  Larsonb 


L’Amarante  des  rochers  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  dans  les  Monts  Mandara,  Nigeria  du  sud-est  : 

une  nouvelle  sous-espece  ? Nous  fournissons  une  description  d un  male  et  d une  femelle,  ainsi  que  des 
photos  d’un  male,  d un  amarante  capture  dans  les  Monts  Mandara,  au  nord-est  du  Nigeria.  Le  plumage 
et  le  cri  de  cet  amarante  sont  identiques  a ceux  de  l’Amarante  des  rochers  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis , 
une  espece  precedemment  rapportee  de  la  zone,  excepte  que  le  male  n’a  pas  la  couronne  grise  typique  de 
l’espece.  Des  travaux  supplementaires  sur  le  terrain  sont  necessaires  pour  determiner  s’il  agit  d’un  individu 
aberrant  ou  d une  population  de  l’Amarante  des  rochers  morphologiquement  distincte. 


Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis 
was  recently  described  from  the  Jos  Plateau, 
central  Nigeria  (10°32’N  09o21’E),  by  Payne 
(1998).  Sightings  were  also  reported  from  the 
Mandara  Mountains  (11°02’N  13°44’E),  c.500 
km  to  the  east  (see  Payne  1998,  Borrow  & Demey 
2001,  Fry  & Keith  2004).  In  2005,  the  species 
was  discovered  in  the  Maroua  area,  northern 
Cameroon,  c.80  km  south-east  of  the  Mandara 
Mountains  (N.  Borrow  in  Bull.  ABC  12:  179). 
Since  then  there  have  been  several  additional 
sightings  from  northern  Cameroon,  where  the 
species  is  thought  to  be  a locally  common  resident 
(Mills  2010). 

To  gather  more  data  on  this  species  in  the 
Mandara  Mountains,  we  visited  this  area  on  9 
October  2008.  On  the  first  day,  we  searched  for 
an  access  from  the  main  road  into  the  mountains. 
While  we  passed  through  some  farmland  with 
gallery  forest,  a pair  of  firefinches,  calling  like 
Rock  Firefinches,  flew  over.  They  landed  in  a 
tree  c.  10  m away  and  eventually  flew  down  to 
a stream,  permitting  good  views.  The  male  had 
a deep  red  head,  breast  and  belly,  brown  wings 
and  a grey  bill.  The  male  Rock  Firefinch  from 
the  Jos  Plateau,  with  which  we  are  familiar,  has 
a brownish-grey  crown,  a brownish-red  back,  a 
deep  red  rump,  and  a black  tail  with  red  fringes  to 
the  outer  rectrices.  The  face  down  to  the  throat, 
breast  and  belly  is  deep  red,  and  the  wings  are  dark 
reddish  brown.  Other  male  firefinches  with  red 
heads  are  Red-billed  Firefinch  L.  senegala , which 
has  a red  or  pink,  not  grey,  bill,  and  Black-bellied 
Firefinch  L.  rara , which  has  a black,  not  red,  belly. 
The  female,  observed  at  a distance  of  c.  15  m,  had 
a brownish-grey  head,  brown  wings  and  a grey 
bill,  i.e.  similar  to  female  Rock  Firefinch  from 


Figures  1-2.  Adult  male  Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta 
sanguinodorsalis , Jos  Plateau,  27  September  2004  (Martin 
Stervander) 

Amarante  des  rochers  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  male 
adulte,  Plateau  de  Jos,  27  septembre  2004  (Martin 
Stervander) 


21 0 - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Rock  Firefinch  in  the  Mandara  Mountains:  Abalaka  et  al. 


Figures  3-4.  Adult  male  Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta 
sanguinodorsalis,  Gwoza,  Mandara  Mountains,  1 1 
October  2008  (Keith  Larson) 

Amarante  des  rochers  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  male 
adulte,  Gwoza,  Monts  Mandara,  1 1 octobre  2008  (Keith 
Larson) 

the  Jos  Plateau.  The  location  was  in  a riparian 
corridor  through  farmland  converted  from  Guinea 
savannah,  at  c.500  m altitude. 

Next  day,  we  erected  mist-nets  at  the  site  and, 
after  two  hours,  trapped  a male.  Its  plumage  was 
similar  to  that  of  a typical  male  Rock  Firefinch, 
except  that  it  lacked  the  grey  crown  (Figs.  1-4). 
In  the  hand,  some  small  grey  feathers  on  the 
crown  were  visible,  but  the  overall  impression 
was  red,  especially  when  seen  at  a distance.  The 
red  also  seemed  to  have  a different  shade,  slightly 
paler  and  less  deep,  than  that  of  Rock  Firefinch 
from  the  Jos  Plateau.  Wing  length  was  55  mm 
and  weight  10.9  g,  i.e.  within  the  range  ol  the  Jos 
Plateau  birds. 

On  the  Jos  Plateau,  Rock  Firefinch  is  usually 
associated,  as  its  name  implies,  with  rocky  habitats 
(Wright  & Jones  2005;  pers.  obs.),  at  altitudes 
ranging  from  750  m at  Kagoro  to  1,350  m at 
Jos  (Abalaka  & Jones  in  prep.);  in  northern 
Cameroon  it  has  been  recorded  at  300—430  m (M. 
Mills  in  lift.  2009). 

The  population  in  the  Mandara  Mountains 
and  neighbouring  areas  of  Cameroon  (pers.  obs.) 


may  differ  from  Rock  Firefinch  described  from 
the  Jos  Plateau,  although  further  investigation 
is  needed  to  reveal  whether  these  differences  are 
consistent  and  warrant  formal  description  as  a 
new  taxon. 

Acknowledgements 

We  thank  the  A.  P.  Leventis  Ornithological  Research 
Institute  for  logistic  support  and  for  partly  financing 
this  expedition.  We  also  thank  Martin  Stervander  for 
photographs  of  Rock  Firefinch  from  the  Jos  Plateau. 
Ron  Demey,  Michael  Mills  and  Bob  Payne  commented 
on  an  earlier  version  of  this  note.  This  is  contribution 
no.  40  of  the  A.  P.  Leventis  Ornithological  Research 
Institute. 

References 

Abalaka,  J.  1.  & Jones,  P.  J.  In  prep.  Population  densities 
of  the  Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis 
and  some  other  estrildine  and  viduine  finches  on 
the  Jos  Plateau,  Nigeria. 

Borrow,  N.  & Demey,  R.  2001.  Birds  of  Western  Africa. 

London,  UK:  Christopher  Helm. 

Brandt,  M.  J.  & Cresswell,  W.  2008.  Breeding 
behaviour,  home  range  and  habitat  selection  in 
Rock  Firefinches  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  in 
the  wet  and  dry  season  in  central  Nigeria.  Ibis  150: 
495-507. 

Fry,  C.  H.  & Keith,  S.  (eds.)  2004.  The  Birds  of  Africa. 

Vol.  7.  London,  UK:  Christopher  Helm. 

Mills,  M.  S.  L.  (2010)  Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta 
sanguinodoralis  and  its  brood  parasite,  Jos  Plateau 
Indigobird  Vidua  maryae,  in  northern  Cameroon. 
Bull.  ABC  17:  86-89. 

Payne,  R.  B.  1998.  Anew  species  of  firefinch 

from  northern  Nigeria  and  its  association  with  the 
Jos  Plateau  Indigobird  Vidua  maryae.  Ibis  140: 
368-381. 

Wright,  D.  & Jones,  P.  2005.  Population  densities 
and  habitat  associations  of  the  range-restricted 
Rock  Firefinch  Lagonosticta  sanguinodorsalis  on 
the  Jos  Plateau,  Nigeria.  Bird  Conserv.  Intern.  15: 
287-295. 

"A.  P.  Leventis  Ornithological  Research  Institute,  Jos, 
Nigeria.  E-mails:  ilewigs@yahoo.com,  ottosson@pt.lu, 
talatutende@yahoo.  com 

b Dept,  of  Animal  Ecology,  Lund  University,  Sweden. 
E-mail:  keith.  larson  @zooekol.  lu.  se 

Received  22  September  2009;  revision  accepted  26 
November  2009. 


Rock  Firefinch  in  the  Mandara  Mountains:  Abalaka  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -211 


A record  of  brood  parasitism  of  Barratt’s  Warbler  Bradypterus 
barratti  by  African  Emerald  Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx  cupreus 

Michael  S.  L Mills 


Une  donnee  de  parasitisme  de  la  Bouscarle  des  fourres  Bradypterus  barratti  par  le  Coucou  foliotocol 

Chrysococcyx  cupreus.  Le  seul  hote  du  Coucou  foliotocol  Chrysococcyx  cupreus  connu  avec  certitude  en 
Afrique  australe  est  la  Camaroptere  a tete  grise  Camaroptera  brachyura.  L’auteur  rapporte  l’observation 
de  deux  Bouscarles  des  fourres  Bradypterus  barratti  adultes  nourrissant  un  jeune  Coucou  foliotocol  dans 
la  foret  de  Xumeni,  KwaZulu-Natal,  Afrique  du  Sud.  Ceci  constitue  la  premiere  donnee  de  parasitisme 
chez  la  Bouscarle  des  fourres,  qui  devient  ainsi  le  deuxieme  hote  confirme  du  Coucou  foliotocol  en 
Afrique  australe. 


At  Xumeni  Forest  (29°55’S  29°51’E),  near 
Donnybrook,  southern  KwaZulu-Natal, 
South  Africa,  on  the  afternoon  of  7 January  2010, 
I was  drawn  to  the  presence  of  a nearby  Barratt’s 
Warbler  Bradypterus  barratti  by  its  loud,  distinctive 
song.  Careful  observation  revealed  two  adults 
feeding  a begging  nestling  in  dense  undergrowth 
beside  the  main  track  through  the  forest.  The 
young  bird  was  significantly  larger  than  the  adults 
and,  based  on  its  size,  shape  and  barred  plumage, 
I identified  it  as  a juvenile  Chrysococcyx  cuckoo.  I 
observed  the  two  adult  Barratt’s  Warblers  feeding 
the  young  cuckoo  for  c. 2 minutes  at  a distance 
of  5-10  m,  at  eye  level.  The  underparts  of  the 
cuckoo,  including  the  throat,  were  whitish  with 
green  bars,  the  crown  had  green  markings,  and 
there  were  no  pale  markings  on  the  head.  These 
features  eliminated  the  possibility  that  the  bird 
was  a juvenile  Klaas’s  Cuckoo  C.  klaas  or  Dideric 
Cuckoo  C.  caprius  (Chittenden  2005),  and  led  to 
my  identification  of  the  bird  as  a juvenile  African 
Emerald  Cuckoo  C.  cupreus.  During  the  course 
of  the  afternoon  I observed  an  adult  male  African 
Emerald  Cuckoo  singing  nearby,  but  no  other 
Chrysococcyx  cuckoos. 

In  southern  Africa  the  only  proven  host 
of  African  Emerald  Cuckoo  is  Green-backed 
Camaroptera  Camaroptera  brachyura , although 
several  other  small,  insectivorous  passerines  are 
suspected  hosts  (Chittenden  2005)  and  a wider 
range  of  passerine  hosts  have  been  recorded 
elsewhere  in  Africa  (Irwin  1988,  Payne  2005). 
This  observation  makes  Barratt’s  Warbler  only 
the  second  confirmed  host  of  African  Emerald 
Cuckoo  in  southern  Africa,  and  the  first  member 
of  the  genus  Bradypterus , although  Little  Rush 
Warbler  B.  baboecala  is  a known  host  of  Dideric 


Cuckoo  (Squelch  & Safe-Squelch  1994).  This  also 
constitutes  the  first  record  of  brood  parasitism  in 
Barratt’s  Warbler  (Vernon  & Dean  2005). 

Acknowledgements 

Ian  Darling,  Frank  Hamilton,  Ruaraidh  Hamilton  and 
Stuart  Housden  shared  this  observation  with  me,  and 
Bob  Payne  commented  on  the  manuscript. 

References 

Chittenden,  H.  N.  2005.  African  Emerald  Cuckoo 
Chrysococcyx  cupreus.  In  Hockey,  P.  A.  R.,  Dean, 
W.  R.  J.  & Ryan,  P.  G.  (eds.)  Roberts — Birds  of 
Southern  Africa.  Seventh  edn.  Cape  Town:  Trustees 
of  the  John  Voelcker  Bird  Book  Fund. 

Irwin,  M.  P.  S.  1988.  In  Fry,  C.  H.,  Keith,  S.  & Urban, 
E.  K.  (eds.)  The  Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.  3.  London, 
UK:  Academic  Press. 

Payne,  R.  B.  2005.  The  Cuckoos.  Oxford:  Oxford 
University  Press. 

Squelch,  P.  & Safe-Squelch,  W.  1994.  Didric  Cuckoo 
being  fed  by  Little  Rush  Warblers.  East  Afr.  Nat. 
Hist.  Soc.  Bull.  24:  39-40. 

Vernon,  C.  J.  & Dean,  W.  R.  J.  2005.  Barratt’s  Warbler 
Bradypterus  barratti.  In  Hockey,  P.  A.  R.,  Dean, 
W.  R.  J.  & Ryan,  P.  G.  (eds.)  Roberts— Birds  of 
Southern  Africa.  Seventh  edn.  Cape  Town:  Trustees 
of  the  John  Voelcker  Bird  Book  Fund. 

DST/NRF  Centre  of  Excellence  at  the  Percy  FitzPatrick 
Institute  of  African  Ornithology,  University  of  Cape 
Town,  Rondebosch  7701,  South  Africa;  and  Birding 
Africa,  21  Newlands  Road,  Claremont  7708,  Cape  Town, 
South  Africa.  E-mail:  michael@birdingafrica.  com 

Received  19  January  2010;  revision  accepted  5 May 
2010. 


21 2 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Brood  parasitism  of  Barratt’s  Warbler  by  African  Emerald  Cuckoo:  Mills 


First  record  of  Streaky-breasted  Flufftail  Sarothrura  boehmi 

for  Benin 

Johannes  Merz f and  Sharon  Merz? 


Premiere  mention  du  Rale  de  Bohm  Sarothrura  boehmi  pour  le  Benin.  Les  5 et  6 septembre  2009, 
une  femelle  et  deux  juveniles  du  Rale  de  Bohm  Sarothrura  boehmi  ont  ete  observes  dans  des  champs  de  riz 
a la  peripherie  de  Cobly,  au  nord-ouest  du  Benin  (10°28’N  01°01’E).  Le  chant  a pu  etre  enregistre.  Ceci 
constitue  la  premiere  donnee  pour  le  Benin. 


On  5-6  September  2009,  we  paid  early- 
morning  visits  to  the  north-eastern  outskirts 
of  Cobly,  in  north-west  Benin  (10°28’N  01°01’E). 
While  standing  on  a bridge  over  a seasonally 
swollen  stream  feeding  adjacent  rice  fields,  we 
heard,  on  both  days,  between  07.30  and  08.00 
hrs,  a distinctive  call  coming  from  the  nearest  rice 
paddy  and  a more  distant  field.  It  comprised  a 
series  of  10—40  low  whoo  notes,  initially  slightly 
rising,  then,  after  the  tenth  note,  remaining 
constant  in  volume  and  pace,  with  c.2  seconds 
between  each  whoo,  and  terminating  in  a few 
less  regularly  uttered  notes.  Our  sound-recording 
proved  to  be  virtually  identical  to  that  of  male 
Streaky-breasted  Flufftail  Sarothrura  boehmi  on 
Chappuis  (2000). 

On  the  first  day,  after  hearing  the  vocalisation, 
we  observed  a small  rail  flying  with  dangling  legs 
from  the  rice  paddy  cA  m from  us  and  landing  c. 3 
m away.  It  was  nicely  lit  by  the  morning  sun:  the 
upper  wings  and  short  body  were  entirely  dark 
brown  with  pale  mottling  and  streaking,  and  the 
legs  were  dull  greenish-yellow.  On  6 September, 
we  observed  the  bird  again  under  comparable 
conditions,  but  this  time  it  was  joined  by  two 
similar  but  sooty-grey  birds,  which  flew  up  from 
a nearby  spot.  The  appearance  of  these  three  birds 
fits  the  description  of,  respectively,  female  and 
juvenile  Streaky-breasted  Flufftails  (Borrow  & 
Demey  2001). 

The  female  Red-chested  Flufftail  S.  rufa , the 
only  other  flufftail  in  West  Africa  (east  to  Nigeria) 
which  frequents  similar  habitat,  is  noticeably  paler, 
whereas  juvenile  White-spotted  Flufftail  S.  pulchra 
is  considerably  browner  than  the  two  juveniles 
we  observed  (Borrow  & Demey  2001).  African 
Crake  Crex  egregia  and  Black  Crake  Amaurornis 
flavirostris  are  larger  and  possess  different  plumage 
features  and  jizz. 


We  heard  male  Streaky-breasted  Flufftails  on 
two  further  occasions:  on  20  September  2009  at 
Didani,  cA  km  west  of  Cobly,  and  on  8 August 
2009  at  Landa-Pozanda  (09°31’N  01°17’E),  in 
neighbouring  Togo,  where  the  species  has  not  yet 
been  recorded  (Cheke  & Walsh  1996).  Both  sites 
comprised  partially  flooded  wooded  savannah 
near  streams.  On  neither  occasion  were  we  able 
to  get  close  enough  to  see  the  birds  or  record  their 
vocalisations. 

The  distribution  of  Streaky-breasted  Flufftail 
is  imperfectly  known.  This  secretive  species  is 
considered  to  be  an  intra-African  migrant  over 
most  of  its  range  and  is  known  to  breed  during 
the  rains  at  scattered  localities,  from  south-east 
Congo-Kinshasa  and  Kenya  to  Zimbabwe  (Taylor 
& van  Perlo  1998).  It  is  very  rarely  recorded 
in  West  Africa,  with  only  two  records  from 
Nigeria,  one  off  the  coast  of  Guinea  and  an 
unsubstantiated  sight  record  in  Mali  (Urban  et  al. 
1986,  de  Bont  2001,  Borrow  & Demey  2001). 
Our  record  is  thus  the  first  for  Benin,  and  it 
seems  that  the  species  also  occurs  in  neighbouring 
Togo,  although  confirmation  is  preferably  needed. 
The  presence  of  two  juveniles  in  early  September 
suggests  that  egg  laying  occurred  in  June  or  July, 
during  the  rainy  season,  and  it  seems  that  Streaky- 
breasted  Flufftail  also  breeds  in  West  Africa. 

Acknowledgements 

We  thank  Patrick  Claffey  for  encouraging  us  to  submit 
this  note  and  Ron  Demey  and  Franchise  Dowsett- 
Lemaire  for  assisting  with  references. 

References 

de  Bont,  M.  2001.  Observations  of  Bohm’s  Flufftail 
Sarothrura  boehmi  in  Nigeria.  Malimbus  23: 
65-66. 

Borrow,  N.  & Demey,  R.  2001.  Birds  of  Western  Africa. 
London,  UK:  Christopher  Flelm. 


First  record  of  Streaky-breasted  Fluffail  for  Benin:  Merz  & Merz 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -21 3 


Chappuis,  C.  2000.  African  Bird  Sounds:  Birds  of 
North , West  and  Central  Africa  and  Neighbouring 
Atlantic  Islands.  15  CDs.  Paris:  Societe  d’Etudes 
Ornithologiques  de  France  & London,  UK:  British 
Library. 

Cheke,  R.  A.  & Walsh,  J.  F.  1996,  The  Birds  of  Togo: 
An  Annotated  Check-list.  BOU  Check-lisr  No.  14. 
Thing:  British  Ornithologists’  Union. 

Taylor,  B.  & van  Perlo,  B.  1998.  Rails.  A Guide  to  the 
Rails , Crakes,  Gallinules  and  Coots  of  the  World. 
Robertsbridge:  Pica  Press. 


Urban,  E.  K„  Fry,  C.  H.  & Keith,  S.  (eds.)  1986.  The 
Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.  2.  London,  UK:  Academic 
Press. 

“ B.P.  45,  Tanguieta,  Republic  of  Benin.  E-mail:  Johannes- 
Sharon_Merz@sil.  org 

Received  7 October  2009;  revision  accepted  11  June 
2010. 


BIRDING  TOURS  WORLDWIDE 


Birding  enriched! 


Kenya 


ligand 


Botswana 


Morocco 

mSSL 


We  cover  them  all,  plus  dozens  of 
other  destinations  worldwide! 

Join  Terry  Stevenson  or  Phi!  Gregory  on  one  of  our  great  Africa  tours. 


More  than  100 great  birding  adventures 

1+800-728-4953  • 1+512-263-7295  • www.fieldguides.com 

9433  Bee  Cave  Road,  Building  1,  Suite  150,  Austin,  TX  78733  USA 


Hunter's  Sunbird,  by  participant  Paul  Thomas 


214 -Butt  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


First  record  of  Streaky-breasted  Fluff  ail  for  Benin:  Merz  & Merz 


First  records  of  Ruddy  Turnstone  Arenaria  interpres  for  Benin 

Guy  R.  Manners 


Premieres  mentions  du  Tournepierre  a collier  Arenaria  interpres  pour  le  Benin.  Le  1 fevrier  2010,  un 
Tournepierre  a collier  Arenaria  interpres  a ete  observe  sur  la  lagune  de  Cotonou,  Benin.  Le  5 fevrier,  deux  ou 
trois  oiseaux  etaient  presents  au  meme  endroit.  II  s’agit  des  premieres  donnees  pour  le  pays  de  ce  migrateur 
palearctique,  qui  est  commun  ou  peu  commun  le  long  de  la  cote  ouest-africaine  et  a deja  ete  enregistre  dans 
les  pays  voisins,  le  Togo  et  le  Nigeria. 


On  1 February  2010,  between  17.00  and 
19.00  hrs,  I was  observing  the  birds  near 
the  mouth  ol  the  Cotonou  lagoon,  Benin,  from 
the  terrace  of  the  Hotel  du  Lac.  My  attention 
was  drawn  to  a small,  stocky  wader  amongst  the 
nearest  rocks  a few  hundred  metres  away.  Despite 
the  rather  bad  light,  coming  from  the  west  as 
I was  viewing  south-west  with  lOx  binoculars, 
the  bird’s  dark  brown  upperparts  combined  with 
the  white  underparts,  brown  throat  and  upper 
breast,  and  rather  short  bill  indicated  that  I was 
watching  a Ruddy  Turnstone  Arenaria  interpres  in 
either  non-breeding  (winter)  or  juvenile  plumage 
(BirdGuides  & Oxford  University  Press  2003— 
06),  a species  with  which  I am  familiar  in  the  UK. 
On  the  evening  of  5 February,  two  or  three  Ruddy 
Turnstones,  showing  the  same  features  as  the  bird 
on  1 February,  were  present  at  the  same  location. 
All  were  either  resting  or  possibly  foraging  on  the 
rocks;  I did  not  see  them  in  flight.  Their  size,  shape 
and  distinctive  plumage  was  confirmed  by  direct 
comparison  with  nearby  Common  Sandpipers 
Actitis  hypoleucos.  There  are  no  serious  contenders 
as  confusion  species:  Charadrius  plovers  are 
smaller  and  even  shorter  billed  and  most  Calidris 
sandpipers  are  also  smaller  and  have  a different 
jizz,  while  the  larger  species  have  longer  bills. 

Although  Ruddy  Turnstone  has  not  yet  been 
reported  from  Benin  (Dowsett  1993,  Dowsett  et 
al.  submitted),  its  occurrence  is  no  surprise.  It  has 
been  recorded  in  neighbouring  Nigeria  (Elgood  et 
al.  1994)  and  Togo  (Cheke  & Walsh  1996),  and 
the  species  is  a common  to  uncommon  Palearctic 
passage  migrant  and  winter  visitor  to  West  African 
coasts  (Urban  et  al.  1986,  van  Gils  & Wiersma 
1996,  Borrow  & Demey  2001,  Delany  et  al. 
2009). 


Acknowledgements 

Patrick  Claffey  and  Ron  Demey  commented  on  earlier 

drafts  ol  this  note  and  provided  references. 

References 

BirdGuides  & Oxford  University  Press.  2003-06.  Birds 
of  the  Western  Palearctic  Interactive  1.1.  DVD- 
ROM.  Sheffield:  BirdGuides. 

Borrow,  N.  & Demey,  R.  2001.  Birds  of  Western  Africa. 
London,  UK:  Christopher  Helm. 

Cheke,  R.  A.  & Walsh,  J.  F.  1996.  The  Birds  of  Togo: 
An  Annotated  Check-list.  BOU  Check-list  No.  14. 
Tring:  British  Ornithologists’  Union. 

Delany,  S.,  Scott,  D.,  Dodman,  T.  & Stroud,  D. 
(eds.)  2009.  An  Atlas  of  Wader  Populations  in 
Africa  and  Western  Eurasia.  Wageningen:  Wetlands 
International. 

Dowsett,  R.  J.  1993.  Afrotropical  avifaunas:  annotated 
country  checklists.  Benin.  Tauraco  Res.  Rep.  5: 
64-68. 

Dowsett,  R.  J.,  Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  & Claffey,  P.  M. 
submitted.  The  avifauna  of  Benin:  additions  and 
corrections.  Bull.  ABC. 

Elgood,  J.  H.,  Heigham,  J.  B.,  Moore,  A.  M.,  Nason, 
A.  M.,  Sharland,  R.  E.  & Skinner,  N.  J.  1994. 
The  Birds  of  Nigeria:  An  Annotated  Check-list. 
BOU  Check-list  No.  4.  Second  edn.  Tring:  British 
Ornithologists’  Union. 

van  Gils,  J.  & Wiersma,  P.  1996.  Family  Scolopacidae 
(sandpipers,  snipes  and  phalaropes).  In  del  Hoyo, 
J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Sargaral,  J.  (eds.)  Handbook  of 
the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  3.  Barcelona:  Lynx 
Edicions. 

Urban,  E.  K.,  Fry,  C.  H.  & Keith,  S.  (eds.)  The  Birds  of 
Africa.  Vol.  2.  London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 

25  Hi  life  Id,  Foxton,  Cambridgeshire  CB22  6RZ,  UK. 

E-mail:  guy@grmanners.com 

Received  15  March  2010;  revision  accepted  2 May 

2010. 


First  records  of  Ruddy  Turnstone  for  Benin:  Manners 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -21 5 


First  record  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes  Picathartes  oreas 

for  Central  African  Republic 

Rod  Cassidf,b,  Barry  Wat  kin  f and  Tamar  Cassidy 


Premiere  mention  du  Picatharte  du  Cameroun  Picathartes  oreas  pour  la  Republique  centrafricaine. 

En  novembre  2009,  six  nids  du  Picatharte  du  Cameroun  Picathartes  oreas  ont  ete  decouverts  sur  des  parois 
rocheuses  a l’interieur  de  la  foret  dense  du  Parc  National  de  Dzangha  Sangha,  Republique  centrafricaine. 
Deux  nids  contenaient  chacun  deux  oisillons;  un  adulte  a ete  observe.  Ceci  constitue  la  premiere  donnee 
pour  le  pays;  la  population  nicheuse  la  plus  proche  se  trouve  a environ  1 40  km  vers  Pouest,  dans  le  Parc 
National  de  Boumba-Bek,  au  Cameroun. 


On  16  November  2009,  while  exploring  a 
heavily  forested  area  on  the  Sangha  River,  in 
the  south-western  Central  African  Republic,  RC 
& BW  found  three  nests  consisting  of  half-cups  of 
mud  plastered  against  a rock  wall  (Figs.  1-2).  They 
were  obviously  those  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes 
Picathartes  oreas  (Fry  2000).  Two  of  the  nests 


Figure  1.  Rock-face  with  nest  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes 
Picathartes  oreas , Dzangha  Sangha  Protected  Area,  Central 
African  Republic,  16  November  2009  (R.  Cassidy). 

Paroi  rocheuse  avec  nid  du  Picatharte  du  Cameroun 
Picathartes  oreas , Parc  National  de  Dzangha  Sangha, 
Republique  centrafricaine,  16  novembre  2009  (R. 

Cassidy) 


contained  two  chicks  each;  the  third  was  damaged. 
While  observing  the  nests,  an  adult  Grey-necked 
Picathartes  appeared,  but  did  not  stay  long.  A 
week  later,  further  exploration  revealed  another 
three  nests  along  a 500-m  stretch  of  rock-face. 
The  site  is  c.  5 km  upstream  of  Sangha  Lodge, 
near  Bayanga  in  the  Dzanga  Sangha  Reserve.  The 
area  is  covered  in  dense  tropical  forest  and  has 
a large  rocky  ridge  with  exposed  rock-faces  and 
waterfalls. 

Grey-necked  Picathartes  is  a local  species 
recorded  from  south-east  Nigeria,  Cameroon, 
Equatorial  Guinea  and  Gabon  (Fry  2000),  and 
has  recently  also  been  reported  from  south-west 
Congo-Brazzaville  (Mamonekene  & Bokandza- 
Paco  2006).  It  has  not  previously  been  reported 
from  Central  African  Republic  (Dowsett 
1993,  Thompson  2007).  The  nearest  breeding 
population  is  in  Boumba-Bek  National  Park, 


Figure  2.  Nest  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes  Picathartes 
oreas,  Dzangha  Sangha  Protected  Area,  Central  African 
Republic,  16  November  2009  (R.  Cassidy). 

Nid  du  Picatharte  du  Cameroun  Picathartes  oreas , Parc 
National  de  Dzangha  Sangha,  Republique  centrafricaine, 
16  novembre  2009  (R.  Cassidy) 


21 6 - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


First  record  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes  for  Central  African  Republic:  Cassidy  et  al. 


Cameroon  (02°40’N  15°00’E),  c.  140  km  to  the 
west  (R.  J.  Dowsett  & F.  Dowsett-Lemaire  in 
Bull.  ABC  5:  142;  Taku  Awa  II  pers.  comm.).  We 
are  hoping  to  conduct  further  field  work  in  the 
Sangha  Lodge  area  to  assess  the  range  and  size  of 
this  population.  Further  updates  will  be  posted  at 
www.sanghalodge.com. 

Acknowledgements 

We  thank  Gregory  Davies  for  his  help  with  the  drafting 
ol  this  note  and  Ron  Demey  for  his  comments  and  help 
with  references. 

References 

Dowsett,  R.  J.  1993.  Afrotropical  avifaunas:  annotated 
country  checklists.  Central  African  Republic. 
Tauraco  Res.  Rep.  5:  168-175. 

Fry,  C.  H.  2000.  Family  Picarthartidae.  In  Fry,  C. 
H.  & Keith,  S.  (eds.)  The  Birds  of  Africa.  Vol.  6. 
London,  UK:  Academic  Press. 


Mamonekene,  V.  & Bokandza-Paco,  F.  L.  2006. 
Premiere  observation  du  Picatharte  du  Cameroon 
Picathartes  oreas  au  Congo-Brazzaville.  Bull.  ABC 
13:  84-85. 

Thompson,  H.  S.  S.  2007.  Family  Picathartidae 
(picathartes).  In  del  Floyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Christie, 
D.  A.  (eds.)  Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol. 
12.  Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

a Silver  Safaris,  267 Stead  Avenue,  Queenswood,  Pretoria, 
South  Africa.  E-mail:  rod@silversafaris.  com 
b Sangha  Lodge,  Bayanga,  Central  African  Republic. 

‘ BirdSection,  Vertebrate  Department,  Transvaal  Museum, 
PO  Box  413,  Pretoria,  South  Africa.  E-mail:  tamar@nfi. 
museum 

Received  20  January  2010;  revision  accepted  11  May 
2010. 


First  record  of  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis 

for  the  African  region 

Peter  G.  Ryan 


Premiere  mention  du  Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis  pour  la  region  africaine.  Un  Labbe  du 
Chili  Catharacta  chilensis  a ete  photographie  a ’tie  Inaccessible,  dans  l’archipel  de  Tristan  da  Cunha,  dans 
l’Atlantique  Sud,  en  novembre  2009.  L'espece  niche  le  long  de  la  cote  de  l’Amerique  du  Sud,  du  centre  du 
Chili  jusqu’au  sud  de  FArgentine.  Les  oiseaux  non  nicheurs  se  dispersent  vers  le  nord  jusqu’au  Perou  et  le 
Bresil,  et  occasionnellement  atteignent  les  Malouines,  mais  la  donnee  presentee  ici  constitue  apparemment 
la  premiere  en  dehors  des  eaux  continentales  sud-americaines. 


The  taxonomy  of  the  large,  Catharacta  skuas 
breeding  in  the  Southern  Flemisphere  is  far 
from  resolved.  Even  comparison  of  mitochondrial 
markers  has  failed  to  elucidate  the  situation, 
with  only  partial  segregation  of  the  various  taxa 
(Ritz  et  al.  2008).  This  is  perhaps  unsurprising 
given  records  of  hybridisation  among  taxa  (e.g., 
Devilliers  1978,  Reinhardt  et  al.  1997).  However, 
most  authorities  recognise  three  species:  South 
Polar  Skua  C.  maccormicki,  Subantarctic  Skua 
C.  antarctica  and  Chilean  Skua  C.  chilensis 
(Furness  1996,  Olsen  & Larsson  1997).  Of  these, 
Subantarctic  Skua  is  resident  in  the  African  region, 
with  breeding  populations  ol  C.  a.  lonnbergii 
on  the  subantarctic  Prince  Edward  and  Crozet 


archipelagos,  and  Tristan  Skua  C.  a.  hamiltoni  is 
endemic  to  Tristan  da  Cunha  and  Gough  Island. 
South  Polar  Skua  is  a scarce  non-breeding  migrant 
to  African  waters.  To  date,  there  have  been  no 
records  of  Chilean  Skuas  in  the  African  region. 

In  November  2009,  I photographed  a Chilean 
Skua  on  Inaccessible  Island,  in  the  Tristan  da 
Cunha  group,  central  South  Atlantic  Ocean.  It 
was  first  observed  on  25  November  and  remained 
until  at  least  1 December,  when  I left  the  island. 
During  this  period  it  loosely  associated  with  a 
non-breeding  ‘club’  of  Tristan  Skuas  roosting  at 
Skua  Pond,  near  West  Point,  but  it  also  attempted 
to  advertise  a territory  on  the  adjacent  Scirpus- 
covered  bog,  where  c.20  pairs  of  Tristan  Skuas 


First  record  of  Grey-necked  Picathartes  for  Central  African  Republic:  Cassidy  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -217 


Figure  1.  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  showing 
cinnamon  vent  and  rather  small  bill  with  bluish  base, 
Skua  Pond,  Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha, 
November  2009  (Peter  Ryan) 

Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis,  Skua  Pond,  lie 
Inaccessible,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  novembre  2009  (Peter 
Ryan).  Noter  le  bas-ventre  cannelle  et  le  bee  relativement 
petit  a base  bleuatre. 


Figure  3.  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  in  flight, 
showing  the  compact  jizz  and  rather  small,  neatly-defined 
white  wing  flashes,  Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha, 
November  2009  (Peter  Ryan) 

Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis  en  vol,  lie 
Inaccessible,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  novembre  2009  (Peter 
Ryan).  Noter  la  forme  compacte  et  les  taches  alaires 
blanches  relativement  petites  et  bien  definies. 


Figure  2.  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  (left)  with 
typical  adult  Tristan  Skua  C.  antarctica  hamiltoni, 
Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  November  2009 
(Peter  Ryan) 

Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis  (a  gauche)  avec  un 
Labbe  de  Tristan  C.  antarctica  hamiltoni  adulte  typique, 
ile  Inaccessible,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  novembre  2009 
(Peter  Ryan) 


Figure  5.  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  giving  the 
long-call  display  on  the  floating  mat  of  Scirpus  sulcatus 
on  Skua  Pond,  Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha, 
November  2009  (Peter  Ryan) 

Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis,  emettant  le  long  cri 
de  parade  sur  un  tapis  flottant  de  Scirpus  sulcatus,  Skua 
Pond,  lie  Inaccessible,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  novembre  2009 
(Peter  Ryan) 


breed.  It  was  less  approachable  than  the  local 
Tristan  Skuas  and  was  frequently  chased  by  them. 
The  Chilean  Skua  was  readily  distinguished  from 
the  rather  variable  local  skuas  by  its  paler  face  and 
neck  with  prominent  golden  hackles,  contrasting 
with  the  dark  eye-patch  and  breast.  At  close 
range,  its  paler  bill  with  a dark  tip  was  visible. 
The  bird  was  also  slightly  smaller,  with  a more 
compact  appearance,  especially  in  flight,  recalling 
South  Polar  Skua.  Although  its  body  was  washed 
rufous,  it  was  not  as  richly  coloured  as  many 


Chilean  Skuas,  but  in  flight  it  clearly  showed  the 
distinctive  cinnamon  underwing-coverts.  When 
the  bird  displayed,  its  long-call  was  distinctly 
deeper  and  more  hoarse  than  that  of  the  Tristan 
Skuas,  sounding  almost  goose-like. 

The  most  likely  confusion  is  with  the  Northern 
Hemisphere  Great  Skua  C.  skua , which  is  more 
richly  coloured  than  Subantarctic  or  South  Polar 
Skuas.  Great  Skuas  show  considerable  variation  in 
plumage,  but  R.  Furness  (in  lift.  2009),  who  has 
studied  Great  Skuas  for  30  years,  commented  that 


21 8 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


First  record  of  Chilean  Skua  from  the  African  region:  Ryan 


Figure  4.  Chilean  Skua  Catharacta  chilensis  landing 
on  Skua  Pond,  Inaccessible  Island,  Tristan  da  Cunha, 
November  2009,  showing  the  diagnostic  cinnamon 
underwing-coverts  (Peter  Ryan).  Note  also  the  distinctive 
paler  buff  tips  to  the  uppertail-coverts. 

Labbe  du  Chili  Catharacta  chilensis , aterrissant  sur  Skua 
Pond,  He  Inaccessible,  Tristan  da  Cunha,  novembre  2009 
(Peter  Ryan).  Noter  les  couvertures  sous-alaires  brun  clair 
diagnostiques  et  les  pointes  chamois  clair  des  couvertures 
sus-caudales. 


‘no  Great  Skua  I’ve  seen  has  had  as  strongly  ginger- 
coloured  underwing-coverts  as  this  bird’.  The 
only  other  possibility  is  that  the  bird  is  of  hybrid 
origin.  Chilean  Skuas  apparently  hybridise  with 
both  Falkland  Skuas  C.  a.  antarctica  (Devilliers 
1978)  and  South  Polar  Skuas  (Reinhardt  et  al. 
1997),  but  hybrids  usually  appear  intermediate  in 
plumage  and  structure  (Devilliers  1978),  whereas 
this  bird  is  typical  of  a Chilean  Skua  in  worn 
plumage. 

Chilean  Skuas  breed  along  the  coast  of  South 
America  from  central  Chile  to  southern  Argentina, 


with  non-breeders  dispersing  north  as  far  as 
Peru  and  Brazil  (Olsen  & Larsson  1997).  They 
occasionally  reach  the  Falkland  Islands,  but  this 
appears  to  be  the  first  record  of  a Chilean  Skua 
away  from  South  American  continental  waters. 

Acknowledgement 

I thank  Bob  Furness  for  useful  comments  on  the 
identity  of  this  bird. 

References 

Devilliers,  P.  1978.  Distribution  and  relationships  of 
South  American  skuas.  Gerfaut  68:  374-417. 
Furness,  R.  W.  1996.  Family  Stercorariidae  (skuas). 
In  del  Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Sargatal,  J.  (eds.) 
Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  3. 
Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 

Olsen,  K.  M.  & Larsson,  FI.  1997.  Skuas  and  Jaegers: 
A Guide  to  the  Skuas  and  Jaegers  of  the  World. 
Robertsbridge:  Pica  Press. 

Reinhardt,  K.,  Blechschmidt,  K.,  Peter,  H.-U.  & 
Montalti,  D.  1997.  A hitherto  unknown 
hybridization  between  Chilean  and  South  Polar 
Skua.  Polar  Biol.  17:  114-118. 

Ritz,  M.  S.,  Millar,  C.,  Miller,  G.  D.,  Phillips,  R.  A., 
Ryan,  P.  G.,  Sternkopf,  V.,  Liebers-Helbig,  D.  & 
Peter,  Fd-U.  2008.  Phylogeography  of  the  southern 
skua  complex — rapid  colonisation  of  the  Southern 
Hemisphere  during  a glacial  period  and  reticulate 
evolution.  Mol.  Phyl.  & Evol.  49:  292-303. 

Percy  FitzPatrick  Institute,  University  of  Cape  Town, 
Rondebosch  7701,  South  Africa.  E-mail:  peter. ryan@uct. 
ac.za 

Received  28  December  2009;  revision  accepted  30 
April  2010. 


First  record  of  Chilean  Skua  from  the  African  region:  Ryan 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -21 9 


Photospot: 

Observations  du  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  dans  les 
environs  d’Antananarivo,  Madagascar 

Bruno  Boedts 


Observations  of  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  around  Antananarivo,  Madagascar.  A small  group  of 
2-8  Sooty  Falcons  Falco  concolor  was  observed  hunting  at  the  end  of  the  rainy  season  in  waste  lands  at 
Ivandry,  a residential  area  in  northern  Antananarivo,  from  28  February  to  4 April  2009.  Immatures  were 
more  numerous  at  the  end  of  the  period  than  at  the  beginning.  During  the  midday  hours,  Sooty  Falcons 
preyed  on  large  non-flying  insects  such  as  Coleoptera  taken  on  low  plants.  Prey  was  then  consumed  quickly 
in  flight  or  sometimes  on  a perch.  In  2006-09,  numbers  of  Sooty  Falcons,  a Near-Threatened  species, 
did  not  decrease  appreciably  at  Ivandry.  They  are  apparently  undisturbed  by  human  activities,  which  are 
limited  at  this  site. 


A Madagascar,  le  Faucon  concolore  Falco 
concolor,  espece  quasi-menacee  qui  niche  en 
Afrique  du  nord-est  et  sur  la  Peninsule  arabique, 
est  present  de  la  fin  octobre  jusqu’a  la  mi-mai 
sur  l’ensemble  de  file,  du  niveau  de  la  mer 
jusqu’a  1.500  m (Orta  1994,  Langrand  1995, 
BirdLife  International  2008).  Pendant  quatre 
annees  consecutives,  de  2006  a 2009,  j’ai  observe 
des  Faucons  concolores  dans  le  quartier  residentiel 
d’lvandry  (47°31’E  1 8°5 1 S),  situe  en  banlieue 
nord  de  la  capitale  Antananarivo  sur  les  hauts 
plateaux  malgaches  (1.266  m).  En  2009,  un 
groupe  de  2-8  individus  frequentant  un  site 
de  chasse  a ete  photographie  au  cours  de  douze 
visites  etalees  sur  plus  d’un  mois,  du  28  fevrier 
au  4 avril.  A Madagascar,  les  insectes  constituent 
une  tres  grande  majorite  des  proies  de  cette 
espece,  dont  le  regime  alimentaire  change  de  fa<;on 
drastique  entre  les  sites  de  reproduction,  oil  elle  se 
nourrit  principalement  de  passereaux,  et  les  sites 
d’hivernage  (Ferguson-Lees  & Christie  2001). 

A Ivandry,  l’espece  est  vue  chaque  annee  a 
partir  de  la  fin  janvier,  la  date  la  plus  precoce  (21 
janvier)  ayant  ete  notee  en  2007.  Les  Faucons 
concolores  frequentent  plusieurs  endroits  autour 
de  la  plaine  inondee  de  Laniera  d une  superficie 
de  plusieurs  milliers  d’hectares,  cultivee  sur  une 
grande  partie  pour  la  production  de  riz.  Ils 
utilisent  un  site  pour  le  repos  et  un  autre  pour  la 
chasse.  Le  site  de  repos  favori,  oil  un  ou  plusieurs 
individus  peuvent  generalement  etre  observes  en 
debut  de  journee,  est  un  grand  pin  dans  un  jardin 
prive,  dominant  le  sud  de  la  plaine  et  a proximite 
de  blocs  d’immeubles  a appartements,  autour 


desquels  les  faucons  sont  souvent  aperqus  en  vol. 
Le  site  de  chasse,  qui  se  trouve  a environ  1 km 
du  site  de  repos,  comprend  des  terrains  en  friche 
partiellement  cultives  (vieilles  vignes,  legumes, 
arbres  fruitiers  tels  que  bananiers)  et  des  paturages 
pour  bovins  d’une  superficie  estimee  a 20  ha 
sur  un  plateau  dont  un  cote  donne  sur  la  plaine 
non  cultivee  a cet  endroit,  et  fautre  sur  le  village 
d’Androhibe.  Des  poteaux  metalliques  ou  en  bois 
d’environ  8 m de  haut  se  trouvent  au  bord  des 
chemins  ou  au  milieu  des  terrains  (Fig.  1). 

En  2009,  un  groupe  de  Faucons  concolores 
etait  present  chaque  jour  sur  le  site  de  chasse. 
Les  adultes  sont  arrives  les  premiers  et  ont  ete 
progressivement  rejoints  par  des  immatures,  a 
partir  du  14  mars.  Differentes  formes  d’immatures, 
caracterisees  par  la  blancheur  du  ventre  et  des 
joues,  ainsi  que  la  couleur  grise  ou  brune  du 
dos,  ont  ete  photographiees  (Figs.  2-5).  Pendant 
la  deuxieme  quinzaine  de  mars,  la  proportion 
d’immatures  par  rapport  aux  adultes  s’est  stabilisee 
a quatre  pour  deux. 

Durant  ces  observations,  les  Faucons  concolores 
etaient  poses  le  plus  souvent  sur  les  poteaux  ou 
les  fils  electriques  d’ou  ils  pouvaient  observer  les 
alentours,  ou  sur  des  branches  d’arbres,  parfois 
situees  a moins  de  3 m du  sol,  pour  se  reposer  ou 
nettoyer  leur  plumage  pendant  de  longs  moments 
(Fig.  6).  Les  faucons  sont  habitues  a certains 
perchoirs  ou  ils  sont  vus  a chaque  observation. 
Aucune  pelote  de  rejection  n’a  ete  trouvee  au  pied 
de  ces  perchoirs.  Ils  ne  sont  generalement  pas 
deranges  par  une  presence  humaine  meme  tres 
proche  et  n’attirent  pas  specialement  l’attention 


220 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Pbotospot:  Sooty  Falcon  in  Madagascar 


des  habitants.  Les  faucons  se  tiennent  le  plus 
souvent  a moins  de  100  m l’un  de  l’autre.  Pendant 
la  nuit,  ils  dorment  en  haut  de  grands  arbres,  a une 
vingtaine  de  metres  de  hauteur. 

Les  perchoirs  sont  egalement  utilises  par  le 
Faucon  de  Newton  F.  newtoni.  Lorsque  des 
Faucons  concolores  se  rapprochent  trop  pres  de 
cette  espece,  celle-ci  peut  les  deloger.  II  arrive 
que  deux  Faucons  concolores  se  poursuivent  en 
vol  pendant  quelques  instants  ou  qu’ils  tournent 
autour  d’autres  oiseaux  comme  des  pigeons 
domestiques,  sans  les  attraper.  En  milieu  de 
journee,  les  Faucons  concolores  peuvent  se  poser 
a terre  sur  un  sol  dur  degage  pour  etaler  leurs  ailes 
au  soleil.  Ils  peuvent  aussi  utiliser  les  courants 
thermiques  pour  s’elever  en  Fair  et  ensuite  planer 
sans  un  battement  d’aile  vers  un  autre  endroit.  Un 
rassemblement  plus  important  d’une  quinzaine 
d’individus  tournant  et  s’elevant  dans  le  del  a 
ainsi  ete  vu  en  mars  2006  au  dessus  du  quartier 
d’Analamahitsy,  une  zone  urbaine  d’Antananarivo 
situee  a environ  2 km  d’lvandry.  Des  oiseaux 
solitaires  ont  egalement  ete  vus  a d’autres  endroits 
aux  environs  du  nord  d’Antananarivo  tels  que 
Ilafy  et  Ivato,  respectivement  situes  a environ  4 et 
10  km  d’lvandry. 

Pendant  les  heures  chaudes  de  la  journee, 
environ  entre  09.00  et  16.00  heures,  les  Faucons 
concolores  s’adonnent  par  vent  faible,  a la  chasse 
aux  insectes  se  trouvant  dans  la  vegetation 
basse,  notamment  des  Coleopteres  cetoines 
(Cetoniinae),  qui  pullulent  a cet  endroit  en  fin 
de  saison  des  pluies  comprise  entre  novembre 
et  avril.  A Ivandry,  le  Faucon  concolore  n’est 
done  pas  specifiquement  crepusculaire  comme 
parfois  indique  dans  la  litterature  (Kemp  & 
Kemp  1998).  De  son  perchoir,  il  s’envole  en 
plongeant  pour  chasser  en  rase  motte  les  insectes 
poses  dans  la  vegetation  (Fig.  7).  Ceux-ci  sont 
attrapes  rapidement  avec  les  serres  dirigees  en 
avant  (Fig.  8).  La  capture  d’insectes  volants  n’a 
pas  ete  observee  durant  ces  periodes  de  chasse 
intensive.  Elle  a toutefois  ete  vue  a la  fin  avril  2009 
sur  un  Faucon  concolore  immature  chassant  seul 
au  site  de  chasse.  L’insecte  en  vol  etait  capture  a 
une  hauteur  d’une  vingtaine  de  metres.  Une  fois 
capture,  l’insecte  est  maintenu  dans  les  serres, 
decortique  avec  le  bee  et  ingurgite  en  quelques 
secondes,  soit  le  plus  souvent  en  vol,  dans  80% 
des  observations,  tout  en  continuant  a planer  a 
moins  de  10  m du  sol  pendant  quelques  instants 


(Fig.  9),  soit,  pour  certains  faucons  habitues  a 
cette  technique,  sur  un  perchoir  habituel,  ou 
l’insecte  est  maintenu  contre  une  surface  (Fig.  10). 
Les  parties  tendres  de  l’insecte  sont  extraites  et  la 
cuticule  rejetee.  Un  Faucon  concolore  peut  ainsi 
se  nourrir  d’un  grand  nombre  d’insectes  en  un 
temps  reduit.  Lorsque  les  insectes  sont  manges  en 
vol,  les  periodes  de  chasse  pratiquees  en  groupe  de 
deux  ou  trois  dans  le  meme  secteur  durent  10-15 
minutes,  pendant  lesquelles  une  dizaine  d’insectes 
sont  captures  par  faucon.  Les  oiseaux  ratent 
rarement  leur  proie.  Apres  une  periode  de  chasse, 
ils  se  reposent  pendant  une  quinzaine  de  minutes 
avant  de  reprendre  leur  vol.  Lorsque  le  temps  est 
nuageux,  ils  restent  immobiles  pendant  de  longs 
moments  sur  leur  perchoir  ou  se  mettent  dans  un 
endroit  plus  cache.  Contrairement  aux  Guepiers 
de  Madagascar  Merops  superciliosu;,  les  faucons 
n’ont  pas  ete  vus  en  train  de  chasser  au  dessus  de 
la  plaine  inondee.  Cependant  a quelques  reprises 
en  fin  de  journee,  un  faucon  solitaire  a ete  vu  en 
vol  bas  au  dessus  de  la  plaine.  Les  Guepiers  de 
Madagascar,  egalement  abondants  a cette  periode 
de  l’annee,  se  nourrissent  generalement,  au  niveau 
de  ce  site,  d’autres  types  d’insectes  que  ceux 
chasses  par  les  Faucons  concolores,  tels  que  les 
Odonates  toujours  captures  lorsque  ces  insectes 
sont  en  vols. 

A la  fin  de  l’hivernage,  l’ensemble  des  Faucons 
concolores  disparait  d’un  jour  a l’autre  du  site  de 
chasse.  En  2009,  le  depart  a correspondu  avec  le 
passage  du  cyclone  Jade  les  6-8  avril.  Neanmoins, 
des  immatures  ou  adultes  solitaires  pouvaient 
encore  etre  vus  jusqu’au  25  avril  aux  sites  de  repos 
et  de  chasse. 

La  conservation  des  Faucons  concolores 
dans  des  sites  d’hivernage  semi  urbains  comme 
celui  d’lvandry  ne  requiert  pas  de  mesures 
speciales  vu  qu’ils  s’accommodent  de  milieux 
degrades  et  sont  peu  deranges  par  la  presence  de 
l’homme.  L’abondance  d’insectes  est  cependant 
cruciale.  De  ce  fait,  la  menace  la  plus  serieuse 
est  constitute  par  revolution  de  1’agriculture.  Si 
celle-ci  s’industrialisait,  certains  amenagements 
ou  certaines  pratiques  culturales  telles  que 
l’utilisation  de  pesticides  risqueraient  d’engendrer 
une  diminution  du  nombre  d’insectes  et  par 
voie  de  consequence  une  diminution  du  nombre 
de  Faucons  concolores.  De  plus,  bien  que  ce 
ne  soit  pas  le  cas  a Ivandry,  leur  familiarite  et 
visibilite  risqueraient  de  les  exposer  au  braconnage, 


Photospot:  Sooty  Falcon  in  Madagascar 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 221 


222  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Figure  1.  Site  de  chasse  : vue  des  terrains  en  friche  et  de  la 
plaine  au  fond.  Poteau  servant  de  poste  d’observation  a un 
Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  (B.  Boedts) 

Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  hunting  area:  view  over  the 
study  area  with  the  flooded  plain  behind.  The  post  was 
used  as  a lookout  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  2.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  immature  a 
ventre  clair,  dos  gris  et  cou  clair  (B.  Boedts) 

Immature  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  with  pale  belly,  grey 
back  and  pale  neck  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  3.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  immature  a 
ventre  fonce,  dos  gris  et  cou  fonce  (B.  Boedts) 

Immature  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  showing  the  dark 
belly,  grey  back  and  dark  neck  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  4.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  immature  a 
ventre  clair,  dos  brun  et  cou  clair  (B.  Boedts) 

Immature  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  with  pale  belly, 
brown  back  and  pale  neck  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  5.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  immature  a 
ventre  fonce,  dos  gris  et  cou  clair  (B.  Boedts) 

Immature  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  with  dark  belly,  grey 
back  and  pale  neck  (B.  Boedts) 


Figure  6.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  adulte  au  repos 
(B.  Boedts) 

Perched  adult  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  7.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  adulte  chassant 
en  rase  motte  (B.  Boedts) 

Hunting  adult  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  8.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  adulte  capturant 
un  insecte  pose  (B.  Boedts) 

Adult  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  capturing  a non-flying 
insect  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  9.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  adulte 
decortiquant  un  insecte  en  vol  (B.  Boedts) 

Adult  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  consuming  an  insect  in 
flight  (B.  Boedts) 

Figure  10.  Faucon  concolore  Falco  concolor  adulte  pose 
decortiquant  un  insecte  (B.  Boedts) 

Adult  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor  consuming  an  insect 
while  perched  (B.  Boedts) 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 223 


notamment  a des  Fins  de  taxidermie  marchande, 
comme  pratique  dans  la  region  de  l’ltasy  (L.-A. 
Rene  de  Rolland  comm.  pers.). 

Pendant  les  quatre  annees  d’observation, 
le  nombre  de  Faucons  concolores  n’a  pas 
sensiblement  diminue.  Leur  arrivee  a Ivandry 
se  fait  relativement  tard  dans  la  saison,  en  Fin 
janvier,  indiquant  qu’ils  doivent  visiter  avant  cela 
d’autres  regions  de  Madagascar  plus  seches  que 
les  hauts  plateaux.  Ils  restent  nombreux  a Ivandry 
jusqu’a  debut  avril  d’ou  ils  partent  probablement 
directement  rejoindre  leurs  lieux  de  nidification 
pour  y arriver  des  la  Fin  avril  ou  en  mai  (Orta 
1994). 

Remerciements 

Je  remercie  Lily-Arison  Rene  de  Rolland,  Olivier 
Langrandet  Jean-Marc  Thiollay  pour  leurs  commentaires 
sur  une  premiere  version  de  Particle,  ainsi  que  Julien 
Ramananpamonjy  pour  ses  encouragements  a publier 
Farticle. 


References 

BirdLife  International.  2008.  Species  lactsheet  : Falco 
concolor.  www.birdlife.org  (consulte  le  11  avril 
2009). 

Ferguson-Lees,  J.  & Christie,  D.  A.  2001.  Raptors  of  the 
World.  London,  UK:  Christopher  Helm. 

Orta,  J.  1994.  Sooty  Falcon  Falco  concolor.  En  del 
Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A.  & Sargatal,  J.  (eds.)  Handbook 
of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  2.  Barcelona  : Lynx 
Edicions. 

Kemp,  A.  & Kemp,  M.  1998.  Sasol  Birds  of  Prey  of 
Africa  and  its  Islands.  London,  UK  : New  Holland. 

Langrand,  O.  1995.  Guide  des  Oiseaux  de  Madagascar. 
Lausanne  & Paris  : Delachaux  et  Niestle. 

BP  1718,  Analakely,  Antananarivo  101,  Madagascar. 

E-mail : boedtsbruno@yahoo.fr 

Requ  le  4 mai  2009  ; revision  acceptee  le  25  novembre 
2009. 


224  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Photospot:  Sooty  Falcon  in  Madagascar 


Photospot: 

A breeding  island  for  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor 
at  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  South  Africa 

Mark  D.  Anderson " and  Tania  A.  Andersonh 


Une  lie  pour  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  a Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  Afrique  du  Sud.  La 

construction  d une  lie  speciale  a Kamfers  Dam,  pres  de  Kimberley  en  Afrique  du  Sud,  en  2006,  afin  d’inciter 
des  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  a y nicher,  a connu  un  succes  surprenant.  Jusqu’a  80.000  flamants 
etaient  present  et  13.000  jeunes  sont  arrives  a l’envol  en  une  seule  saison.  En  2009/10,  F augmentation  du 
niveau  d eau  a malheureusement  cause  l’echec  de  la  reproduction  dans  la  plus  grande  partie  de  la  colonie. 
II  est  toutefois  prevu  de  reparer  les  degats  afin  d’accroitre  l’attrait  de  File  pour  les  flamants.  Kamfers  Dam 
pourrait  devenir  un  des  sites  les  plus  importants  au  monde  pour  cette  espece  Quasi  Menacee. 


Kamfers  Dam  is  a 500-ha  perennial  wetland 
located  just  north  of  Kimberley,  South 
Africa.  This  wetland  was  previously  an  ephemeral 
pan,  but  is  now  permanently  inundated  as  it 
receives  most  of  Kimberley’s  effluent  water.  It 
also  receives  storm-water  run-off  from  Kimberley 
and  from  a c.  160  krrr  large  catchment.  Kamfers 
Dam  probably  supports  the  largest  permanent 
population  of  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias 
minor  in  southern  Africa,  with  sometimes  >80,000 
individuals  present. 


During  September  2006,  following  months 
of  planning  and  a protracted  Environmental 
Impact  Assessment  process,  a flamingo  island  was 
constructed  by  Ekapa  Mining  at  Kamfers  Dam. 
The  construction  was  a massive  undertaking, 
with  more  than  26,000  tons  of  material  being 
moved.  The  cost  of  construction  was  an  estimated 
half  a million  rand  (c.UK£45,000).  Within  two 
weeks  of  the  200-m  causeway  being  removed,  the 
first  Lesser  Flamingos  made  use  of  the  island  for 
roosting  purposes.  Within  a few  months  r.30,000 


Figure  1.  Kamfers  Dam,  prior  to  the  island’s  construction,  with  the  city  of  Kimberley  visible  in  the  background  (Mark 
D.  Anderson) 

Kamfers  Dam  avant  la  construction  de  File,  avec  la  ville  de  Kimberley  en  arriere-plan  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Figure  2.  The  S-shape  limits  the  area  of  the  island  exposed  to  water  and  wind  erosion,  and  the  two  sheltered  bays 
permit  the  flamingos  easy  access  to  the  island.  The  island  was  constructed  mainly  of  calcrete,  from  a nearby  quarry,  but 
was  also  topped  with  a 20-cm  layer  of  clay  (providing  material  for  the  flamingos  to  construct  their  nests).  Four  large 
ponds  were  constructed  on  the  island,  fed  by  water  from  a pump  submerged  in  the  dam  and  powered  by  solar  panels. 
The  causeway  was  removed  once  the  island  construction  was  completed  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

L’ile  a la  forme  dun  S,  limitant  ainsi  la  surface  exposee  a Ferosion  par  Faction  de  l’eau  et  du  vent,  et  les  deux  baies 
abritees  facilitent  Faeces  des  flamants.  L’ile  a ete  construite  principalement  avec  du  calcrete  provenant  d'une  carriere 
proche,  auquel  une  couche  d’argile  de  20  cm  a ete  ajoutee  (fournissant  ainsi  aux  flamants  le  materiau  pour  la 
construction  des  nids).  Quatre  grands  etangs  ont  ete  commits  sur  1 ile,  remplis  d eau  par  une  pompe  submergee  et 
actionnee  par  des  panneaux  solaires.  La  route  d’acces  a ete  enlevee  des  que  la  construction  de  File  fut  terminee  (Mark  D. 

Anderson) 


Photospot:  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  South  Africa 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 225 


Photospot:  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  South  Africa 


226  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Figure  3.  The  island,  covered  with  Lesser  Flamingos 
Phoeniconaias  minor,  is  clearly  visible  from  commercial 
plane  flights  between  Johannesburg  and  Cape  Town.  The 
large  ponds  can  be  seen  at  the  bottom  half  of  the  island, 
and  the  high-lying  area  (specifically  constructed  as  an 
escape  area  for  small  chicks  should  the  dam’s  water  level 
rise)  at  the  top  left  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

L’ile,  couverte  de  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor , 
esr  clairement  visible  a partir  des  vols  commerciaux 
de  Johannesbourg  a Cape  Town.  Les  grands  etangs  se 
trouvent  dans  la  moitie  inferieure  de  file  et  la  zone  elevee 
(qui  a ete  construite  specifiquement  pour  permettre  aux 
poussins  d’echapper  le  cas  echeant  aux  eaux  montantes) 
en  haut  a gauche  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Figure  4.  During  the  2006/7  summer,  the  Lesser 
Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor  constructed  160  nests  and 
laid  eggs,  but  the  breeding  event  was  unsuccessful  (Mark 
D.  Anderson) 

Pendant  Fete  2006/7,  les  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias 
minor  ont  consrruit  160  nids  et  pondu,  mais  la  tentative 
de  reproduction  a echouee  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Lesser  Flamingos  were  roosting  on  the  island  at 
night,  with  many  birds  also  using  the  island  during 
the  day.  Despite  nest  construction  and  egg  laying, 
the  2006/07  breeding  attempt  was  unsuccessful. 


Figure  5.  At  the  end  of  the  2007/8  breeding  event,  there 
were  more  than  7,000  nests  on  the  island,  increasing  to 
c.  10,000  after  the  2008/9  breeding  event.  During  winter 

2007,  a webcam  (‘FlamCam’)  was  installed;  images  can  be 
can  be  viewed  at  www.africam.com  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

En  2007/8,  il  y avait  plus  de  7.000  nids  sur  File,  tandis 
qu  en  2008/9  le  nombre  avait  augmente  jusqu’a  environ 
10.000.  Pendant  l’hiver  de  2007,  un  webcam  a ete 
installe  (Mark  D.  Anderson).  Les  images  du  ‘FlamCam’ 
peuvent  etre  visionnees  sur  www.africam.com  (Mark  D. 
Anderson) 

Figure  6.  A series  of  high-resolution  images  of  the 
island  was  taken  on  a monthly  basis  from  a helicopter 
during  one  fly-over  at  an  altitude  of  c.200  m (Mark 
D.  Anderson).  There  was  no  visible  disturbance  to  the 
flamingos.  The  images  were  imported  into  Photoshop 
and,  using  a sheep-counter,  the  total  numbers  of  eggs, 
chicks,  incubating  adults,  and  adults  were  counted. 

Une  serie  d’images  a haute  resolution  a ete  prise  chaque 
mois  a partir  d’un  helicoptere  survolant  File  a une  hauteur 
d’environ  200  m (Mark  D.  Anderson).  Les  flamants  ne 
semblaient  pas  etre  deranges.  Les  images  ont  ete  importees 
dans  Photoshop  et  le  nombre  d'oeufs,  de  poussins  et 
d’adultes  en  train  de  couver  ou  non,  a ete  compte. 

Figure  7.  The  first  chicks  were  observed  on  2 January 

2008,  with  the  breeding  success  being  a historic  event  for 
Lesser  Flamingo  Phoeniconaias  minor  conservation  (Mark 
D.  Anderson).  The  chicks  seemed  to  leave  their  nests  3-4 
days  after  hatching,  then  remain  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
nests  for  a short  period  (perhaps  a week),  before  joining 
the  large  creches. 

Les  premiers  poussins  ont  ete  observes  le  2 janvier  2008, 
la  reproduction  constituant  un  evenement  historique  pour 
la  protection  du  Flamant  nain  Phoeniconaias  minor  (Mark 
D.  Anderson).  Les  poussins  semblaient  quitter  leur  nid 
apres  3-4  jours  et  ensuite  rester  pres  du  nid  pendant  une 
courte  periode  (peut-etre  une  semaine),  avant  de  rejoindre 
les  grandes  creches. 

Figure  8.  A group  of  immature  Lesser  Flamingos 
Phoeniconaias  minor  that  fledged  from  the  island  (Mark 
D.  Anderson) 

Un  groupe  de  jeunes  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor 
nes  sur  File  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Figures  9—10.  Lesser  Flamingos  Phoeniconaias  minor  bred 
successfully  on  the  island  during  2007/8  and  2008/9, 
producing  an  estimated  9,000  and  13,000  chicks, 
respectively  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Les  Flamants  nains  Phoeniconaias  minor  ont  niche  sur  File 
avec  succes  en  2007/8  et  2008/9,  produisant  environ  9.000 
et  13.000  poussins,  respectivement  (Mark  D.  Anderson) 

Subsequently,  for  about  four  months  during 
2007,  no  flamingos  used  the  island. 

The  Lesser  Flamingos  returned  to  the  island  in 
large  numbers  in  September  2007  when  breeding 


Photospot:  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  South  A frica 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 227 


displays  were  observed.  On  2 January  2008, 
the  first  chicks  were  seen  and,  by  April  2008, 
it  was  estimated  that  9,000  chicks  had  hatched 
during  that  summer’s  breeding  event.  The  Lesser 
Flamingos  bred  again  in  2008/09,  this  time 
producing  an  estimated  13,000  chicks. 

The  2009/10  breeding  event  started  a month 
earlier,  in  early  September  2009,  but  rising  water 
levels  and  then  heavy  rains  during  early  November 
2009  resulted  in  the  loss  of  probably  >1,000 
chicks  and  an  unknown  number  of  eggs,  and  the 
flooding  of  about  three-quarters  of  the  island.  It 
is  estimated  that  c.7,500  nests  were  destroyed  by 
the  rising  waters.  In  early  January  2010,  the  island 
was  still  flooded  and  only  c.500  Lesser  Flamingo 
chicks  fledged. 

The  breeding  of  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Kamfers 
Dam  represents  (a)  the  first  time  that  the  species 
has  bred  on  an  artificial  structure,  (b)  the  first- 
ever  successful  breeding  event  in  South  Africa,  (c) 
the  third  breeding  locality  in  southern  Africa,  (d) 
the  fourth  breeding  locality  in  Africa,  and  (e)  the 
sixth  breeding  locality  globally  (Anderson  2008, 
Childress  et  al.  2008).  In  addition  to  Kamfers 
Dam,  Lesser  Flamingos  only  breed  at  Etosha  Pan 
in  Namibia,  Sua  Pan  in  Botswana,  Lake  Natron  in 
Tanzania  and  at  the  Zinzuwadia  and  Purabcheria 
salt  pans  in  north-west  India  (Anderson  2008, 
Childress  et  al.  2008). 

Importantly,  the  Lesser  Flamingos  have  bred 
at  Kamfers  Dam  during  three  successive  summers, 
whilst  at  other  localities  they  nest  less  frequently 
(for  example  they  are  successful  every  ten  years  at 
Etosha  Pan:  Simmons  1996). 

Kamfers  Dam,  the  breeding  island,  and  the 
dam’s  flamingos  currently  face  several  important 
threats,  including:  (a)  rising  water  levels 

(through  an  increased  inflow  of  sewage  water), 
(b)  deteriorating  water  quality  (for  the  same 
reason)  and  (c)  the  development  of  Northgate,  a 
massive  housing  development  (comprising  6,500 
middle-class  homes)  on  the  property  adjoining 
Kamfers  Dam.  The  Save  the  Flamingo  Association 
(www.savetheflamingo.co.za),  Kamfers  Dam’s 
landowners  (the  Booth  family),  BirdLife  South 
Africa,  and  the  Wildlife  & Environment  Society  of 
South  Africa  are  addressing  these  threats  through 
various  means,  including  litigation. 

With  various  anthropogenic  threats  at  the 
Lesser  Flamingo’s  other  breeding  sites  (problems 
in  their  catchments,  soda  ash  plants,  etc.),  Kamfers 


Dam  could  become  increasingly  important  lor 
the  conservation  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo,  which 
is  considered  Near  Threatened  globally.  It  is 
anticipated  that  global  warming  will  result  in  less 
frequent  inundation  (and  therefore  less  frequent 
breeding)  at  the  other  breeding  sites  (especially 
Etosha  Pan  and  Sua  Pan),  making  the  potentially 
more  stable  regime  at  the  artificial  Kamfers  Dam 
of  even  greater  importance. 

Ekapa  Mining  has  committed  to  rebuilding 
the  island,  which  will  mean  re-constructing  the 
200-m  causeway  and  raising  the  height  of  the 
island,  but  only  once  the  dam’s  water  level 
stabilises  and  when  the  Sol  Plaatje  (Kimberley) 
Municipality  can  deal  with  the  excess  water  and 
treat  the  sewage  water  to  an  acceptable  quality. 

Acknowledgements 

The  island  was  constructed  by  Ekapa  Mining,  and  Jahn 
Hohne  and  Peter  Hohne’s  contributions  in  particular  are 
very  gratefully  appreciated.  Kamfers  Dam’s  landowners, 
Herbert  & Brenda  Booth,  are  very  supportive  of  this 
important  conservation  project.  Barney  Horwitz,  Helen 
Dagut  and  Terry  Winstanley  have  provided  expert  legal 
assistance.  The  FlamCam  (webcam)  was  sponsored  by 
Ekapa  Mining  and  Nedbank.  Brooks  Childress,  Alan 
Johnson,  Arnaud  Bechet,  Warwick  Tarboton  and 
Rob  Simmons  have  provided  useful  inputs  during  the 
project.  The  Save  the  Flamingo  Association  has  actively 
campaigned  for  the  conservation  of  Kamfers  Dam  and 
its  flamingos. 

References 

Anderson,  M.  D.  2008.  A vision  in  pink.  Lesser 
Flamingo  breeding  success.  Africa — Birds  &Birding 
13(2):  42-49. 

Childress,  B.,  Nagy,  S.  & Hughes,  B.  (compilers)  2008. 
International  Single  Species  Action  Plan  for  the 
Conservation  of  the  Lesser  Flamingo  ( Phoeniconaias 
minor).  CMS  Tech.  Ser.  18  & AEWA  Tech.  Ser. 
34.  Bonn. 

Simmons,  R.  E.  1996.  Population  declines,  viable 
breeding  areas  and  management  options  for 
flamingos  in  southern  Africa.  Conserv.  Biol.  10: 
504-514. 

" BirdLife  South  Africa,  PO  Box  515,  Randburg  2125, 
South  Africa.  E-mail:  director@birdlife.org.za 
b McGregor  Museum,  PO  Box  316,  Kimberley  8300, 
South  Africa. 

Received  25  December  2009;  revision  accepted  19 
May  2010. 


Photospot:  Lesser  Flamingos  at  Kamfers  Dam,  Kimberley,  South  Africa 


228  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birding  Rwanda — in  search  of  Red-collared  Babbler 
Kupeornis  rufocinctus , Albertine  Rift  endemics  and  more 

Callan  Cohen"1’,  Peter  Ryanb,  Marcell  Claasenc  and  Claver  Ntoyinka!1 

Observer  les  oiseaux  au  Rwanda— a la  recherche  du  Phyllanthe  a collier  roux  Kupeornis  rufocinctus 
et  es  especes  endemiques  du  Rift  albertin.  Cet  article  presente  deux  des  meilleurs  sites  pour  observer 
es  oiseaux  au  Rwanda  : la  foret  de  Nyungwe  (ou  Ton  peut  trouver  25  des  35  especes  endemiques  du  Rift 
a bertin)  et  le  Parc  National  de  1 Akagera  (oil  525  especes  d’oiseaux  ont  ete  recensees,  dont  le  Bec-en-sabot 
du  Nil  Balaeniceps  rex  et  plusieures  especes  confinees  au  bassin  du  Lac  Victoria). 


The  tiny  country  of  Rwanda  is  perched  on 
Central  Africa’s  Albertine  Rift  highlands, 
straddling  the  watershed  between  the  continent’s 
two  great  rivers,  the  Nile  and  the  Congo.  It  has 
been  largely  overlooked  by  birders,  who  instead 
are  lured  by  the  well-publicised  bird  diversity 
and  tourist  facilities  boasted  by  its  northern 
neighbour,  Uganda.  However,  one  of  Africa’s 
most  charismatic  and  enigmatic  birds,  the  Red- 
collared  Babbler  Kupeornis  rufocinctus,  is  only 
accessible  in  Rwanda,  as  is  Albertine  Owlet 
Glaucidium  albertinum,  and  other  species  such 
as  Red-faced  Barbet  Lybius  rubrifacies,  Ruaha’ 
Chat  Myrmecocichla  ( arnotti ) collaris,  Grauer’s 
Swamp  Warbler  Bradypterus  graueri,  Kungwe 
Apalis  Apalis  ( rufogidaris ) argentea  and  Purple- 
breasted Sunbird  Nectarinia  purpureiventris  are 
perhaps  most  accessibly  found  here. 

This  article  focuses  on  the  two  top  strategic 
birding  areas,  which  are  the  largest  remaining 
blocks  of  natural  habitat  in  this  densely  cultivated 
country.  Nyungwe  National  Park  is  the  undoubted 
jewel  in  the  crown  and  is  covered  in  most  detail 
here.  One  of  the  largest  montane  forests  in  Africa, 
it  has  more  Albertine  Rift  endemic  birds  than 
any  other  site  outside  Congo-Kinshasa  (see  Table 
1),  and  is  easily  accessed  by  an  excellent  tarmac 
road.  On  the  other  side  of  the  country,  Akagera 
National  Park  offers  a broad  diversity  of  savannah 
and  wetland  birds,  including  Shoebill  Balaeniceps 
rex  and  several  species  conhned  to  the  Lake 
Victoria  basin. 

Focusing  on  these  areas,  it  is  quite  possible 
to  record  over  300  species  in  just  ten  days  in 
Rwanda,  less  than  half  the  country’s  total  list  of 
almost  700  species.  Most  tourists  visit  during  the 
main  dry  season  in  June-September,  although  the 
shorter  December— January  dry  season  may  also 
prove  to  be  a rewarding  time  to  visit.  With  the 


1994  genocide  now  firmly  in  the  past,  Rwanda 
is  one  of  the  most  organised  countries  in  Africa 
and  is  proactively  rebuilding  its  infrastructure  and 
promoting  tourism.  A bird  atlas  project  has  also 
recently  been  initiated. 

Albertine  Rift  Endemics 

The  forests  of  the  western  or  Albertine  Rift 
support  more  endemic  birds  than  any  other 
Endemic  Bird  Area  in  Africa.  Adding  to  their 
allure,  some  of  Africa’s  most  enigmatic  birds 
occur  here:  Congo  Bay  Owl  Phodilus prigoginei, 
Prigogine’s  Nightjar  Caprimulgusprigogineiand 
Schouteden’s  Swift  Schoutedenapus  schoutedeni 
are  cumulatively  known  from  fewer  than  ten 
specimens!  Extending  patchily  through  eastern 
Congo-Kinshasa,  western  Tanzania,  Burundi, 
Rwanda  and  Uganda,  the  Albertine  Rift  forests 
support  at  least  35  strict  endemics.  Many  of 
these  forests  are  under  threat,  especially  due  to 
clearance  for  agriculture,  and  the  status  of  those 
forests  in  Congo-Kinshasa,  which  support  the 
greatest  diversity  of  endemics,  is  poorly  known. 
In  recent  years,  most  birders  ‘chasing’  the 
Albertine  Rift  specialties  have  visited  Uganda’s 
Bwindi  region,  but  this  offers  only  a subset 
of  the  region’s  endemics.  Rwanda’s  Nyungwe 
National  Park  offers  a greater  diversity  in  a 
magnificent  setting. 

Nyungwe  National  Park 

Nyungwe  is  one  of  Africa’s  best  forests  for  birding: 
an  excellent  road  runs  through  the  national 
park  offering  excellent  vistas  and  chances  for 
25  of  the  35  strict  Albertine  Rift  endemics 
(see  Table  1).  Nyungwe  harbours  all  of  the 
Albertine  Rift  endemics  recorded  from  Bwindi 
in  Uganda  with  the  exception  ol  African  Green 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 229 


Table  1.  Endemic  birds  of  the  Albertine  Rift.Taxa  not  recognised 
specifically  by  the  African  Bird  Club  checklist  are  denoted  by  their 
subspecies  epithets.  Chapin’s  Flycatcher  is  listed  here  but  is  not  a 
strict  Albertine  Rift  endemic  as  it  also  occurs  at  one  site  in  Kenya. 
Ruwenzori  Nightjar  Caprimulgus  ruwenzorii  is  not  listed  as  it  is  now 
recognised  to  occur  widely  outside  this  region.  Species  occurring  in 
more  than  three  forests  in  Congo-Kinshasa  are  coded  simply  DRC. 

Tableau  1.  Oiseaux  endemiques  du  Rift  albertin.  Les  taxons  qui 
ne  sont  par  reconnus  comme  especes  sur  la  liste  de  I'African  Bird 
Club  sont  indiques  par  le  nom  de  la  sous-espece  en  question.  Le 
Gobemouche  de  Chapin  Muscicapa  lendu  est  liste  ici,  bien  qu’il  ne  soit 
pas  endemique  au  Rift  albertin,  puisqu'il  se  trouve  egalement  sur  un  site 
au  Kenya.  L’Engoulevent  du  Ruwenzori  Caprimulgus  ruwenzorii  n’est 
pas  mentionne,  car  Ton  sait  maintenant  qu'il  est  largement  distribue 
en  dehors  de  la  region.  Les  especes  qui  se  trouvent  dans  plus  de 
trois  forets  au  Congo-Kinshasa  sont  indiquees  simplement  par  DRC. 


Handsome  Francolin  Francolinus  nobilis 

Nyungwe 

Ruwenzori  Turaco  Ruwenzorornis  johnstoni 

Nyungwe 

Congo  Bay  Owl  Phodilus  prigoginei 

Itombwe,  DRC 

Albertine  Owlet  Glaucidium  albertinum 

Nyungwe 

Prigogine's  Nightjar  Caprimulgus  prigoginei 

Itombwe,  DRC 

Dwarf  Honeyguide  Indicator  pumilio 

Nyungwe 

African  Green  Broadbill  Pseudocalyptomena  graueri 

Kivu  & Itombwe,  DRC; 
Bwindi,  Uganda 

Grauer’s  Cuckooshrike  Coracina  graueri 

DRC 

Prigogine’s  Greenbul  Chlorocichla  prigoginei 

Lendu  Plateau,  DRC 

Archer's  Robin  Chat  Cossypha  arched 

Nyungwe 

Red-throated  Alethe  Alethe  poliophrys 

Nyungwe 

Kivu  Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  (piaggiae)  tanganjicae 

Nyungwe 

Neumann's  Warbler  Hemitesia  neumanni 

Nyungwe 

Grauer's  Swamp  Warbler  Bradypterus  graueri 

Nyungwe 

Grauer’s  Warbler  Graueria  vittata 

Nyungwe 

Chapin’s  Crombec  Sylvietta  (leucophyrus)  chapini 

Lendu  Plateau,  DRC 

Red-faced  Woodland  Warbler  Phylloscopus  laetus 

Nyungwe 

Ruwenzori  Apalis  Apalis  ruwenzorii 

Nyungwe 

Mountain  Masked  Apalis  Apalis  personata 

Nyungwe 

Kabobo  Apalis  Apalis  ( porphyrolaema ) kaboboensis 

Mount  Kabobo,  DRC 

Kungwe  Apalis  Apalis  ( rufogularis ) argentea 

Nyungwe 

Yellow-eyed  Black  Flycatcher  Melaenornis  ardesiacus 

Nyungwe 

Chapin’s  Flycatcher  Muscicapa  lendu 

DRC,  Bwindi  Uganda 
and  Kakamega  Kenya; 
unconfirmed  for 
Nyungwe 

Ruwenzori  Batis  Batis  diops 

Nyungwe 

Red-collared  Babbler  Kupeornis  rufocinctus 

Nyungwe 

Chapin's  Babbler  Kupeornis  chapini 

DRC 

Stripe-breasted  Tit  Parus  fasciiventer 

Nyungwe 

Blue-headed  Sunbird  Cyanomitra  alinae 

Nyungwe 

Purple-breasted  Sunbird  Nectarinia  purpureiventris 

Nyungwe 

Ruwenzori  Double-collared  Sunbird  Cinnyris  stuhlmanni  Nyungwe 

Regal  Sunbird  Cinnyris  regius 

Nyungwe 

Rockefeller’s  Sunbird  Cinnyris  rockefelieri 

DRC;  unconfirmed  for 
Nyungwe 

Yellow-crested  Helmetshrike  Prionops  alberti 

DRC 

Strange  Weaver  Ploceus  alienus 

Nyungwe 

Dusky  Crimsonwing  Cryptospiza  jacksoni 

Nyungwe 

Shelley’s  Crimsonwing  Cryptospiza  shelleyi 

Nyungwe 

Legends  to  figures  on  opposite  page 

Figure  1.  Ruwenzori  Turaco  Ruwenzorornis  johnstom 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com).  This  Albertine 
Rift  endemic  is  easily  seen  at  Nyungwe. 

Touraco  du  Ruwenzori  Ruwenzorornis  johnstoni  (Callan 
Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com).  Cec  endemique  du  Rift 
albertin  est  facile  a voir  a Nyungwe. 

Figure  2.  Nyungwe  forest  is  the  best  place  to  see  Purple- 
breasted S unbird  Nectarinia  purpureiventris  (Callan 
Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

La  foret  de  Nyungwe  est  le  meilleur  site  pour  observer  le 
Souimanga  a ventre  pourpre  Nectarinia  purpureiventris 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  3.  Neumann’s  Warbler  Hemitesia  neumanni  lurks 
in  Nyungwe’s  dark  understorey  (Callan  Cohen  / www. 
birdingafrica.com) 

Le  Crombec  de  Neumann  Hemitesia  neumanni  frequence 
le  sous-bois  de  Nyungwe  (Callan  Cohen  / www. 
birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  4.  Grauer’s  Swamp  Warbler  Bradypterus  graueri, 
Kamiranzovu  swamp,  Nyungwe  National  Park  (Peter 
Ryan) 

Bouscarle  de  Grauer  Bradypterus  graueri,  marais  de 
Kamiranzovu,  Parc  National  de  Nyungwe  (Peter  Ryan) 

Figure  5.  Rwanda  is  the  best  place  to  obverve  the  social 
Red-collared  Babbler  Kupeornis  rufocinctus  (Ray  Tipper) 

Le  Rwanda  est  le  meilleur  endroit  pour  observer  le 
Phyllanthe  a collier  roux  Kupeornis  rufocinctus  (Ray 
Tipper) 

Figure  6.  Ruwenzori  Apalis  Apalis  ruwenzorii  inhabits 
tangles  on  Nyungwe’s  forest  edge  (Callan  Cohen  / www. 
birdingafrica.com) 

L’Apalis  du  Ruwenzori  Apalis  ruwenzorii  occupe  les 
feuillages  denses  des  lisieres  de  la  foret  de  Nyungwe 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Broadbill  Pseudocalyptomena  graueri  (and 
given  the  broadbill’s  unobtrusive  nature,  it  may 
well  occur,  as  large  parts  of  Nyungwe  seem 
superficially  similar  to  Ruhiza  in  Bwindi  where 
the  broadbill  occurs).  When  birding  in  Nyungwe 
one  has  a sense  of  exploration;  that  anything  could 
appear  over  the  next  hill.  For  example,  the  rare 
Owl-faced  Monkey  Cercopithecus  hamlyni  was 
only  discovered  in  Nyungwe  in  1989.  Chapin’s 
Flycatcher  Muscicapa  lendu  and  Rockefeller’s 
Sunbird  Cinnyris  rockefelleri  have  been  claimed 
from  Nyungwe,  but  their  occurrence  requires 
confirmation,  and  the  secretive  Congo  Bay  Owl 
Phodilus  prigoginei  may  also  occur. 

Target  birds. — 25  Albertine  Rift  endemics 
including  Albertine  Owlet,  Neumann’s  Warbler 


230  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 231 


232  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Legends  to  figures  on  opposite  page 

Figure  7.  Red-faced  Woodland  Warbler  Phylloscopus 
laetus  forms  part  of  canopy  bird  parties  at  Nyungwe 
National  Park  (Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafnca.com) 

Le  1 ouillot  a lace  rousse  Phylloscopus  laetus  fait  partie  des 
rondes  insectivores  de  la  canopee  dans  le  Parc  National  de 
Nyungwe  (Callan  Cohen  / www.birdmgafrica.com) 

Figure  8.  Cinnamon-chested  Bee-eater  Merops  oreobates 
occurs  on  the  edge  of  highland  forest  clearings  (Callan 
Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Le  Guepier  montagnard  Merops  oreobates  se  trouve  a 
la  lisiere  des  clairieres  a haute  altitude  (Callan  Cohen  / 
www.birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  9.  The  almost  mythical  Albertine  Owlet 
Glaucidium  albertinum  has  been  mist-netted  in  this  patch 
ol  mossy  forest  near  Kamiranzovu  swamp,  Nyungwe 
National  Park  (Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafnca.com) 

La  Chevechette  du  Graben  Glaucidium  albertinum  a ete 
capturee  au  filet  japonais  dans  ce  lambeau  de  foret  pres 
du  marais  de  Kamiranzovu,  Parc  National  de  Nyungwe 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  10.  Northern  Double-collared  Sunbird  Cinnyris 
reichenoivi  is  common  and  widespread  in  Nyungwe 
National  Park  (Peter  Ryan) 

Le  Souimanga  de  Preuss  Cinnyris  reichenowi  est  commun 
et  repandu  dans  le  Parc  National  de  Nyungwe  (Peter 
Ryan) 

Figure  11.  Liihder’s  Bushshrike  Laniarius  luehderi  skulks 
in  tangles  at  mid  and  lower  elevations  (Callan  Cohen  / 
www.birdingafrica.com) 

Le  Gonolek  de  Luhder  Laniarius  luehderi  frequence  la 
vegetation  dense  a moyenne  et  basse  altitude  (Callan 
Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  12.  Papyrus  Gonolek  Laniarius  mufumbiri  occurs 
in  the  extensive  papyrus  swamps  of  Akagera  National 
Park  (David  Winter) 

Le  Gonolek  des  papyrus  Laniarius  mufumbiri  se  rencontre 
dans  les  papyraies  du  Parc  National  de  l’Akagera  (David 
Winter) 

Figure  13.  L'Hoest’s  Monkey  Cercopithecus  Ihoesti  can  be 
seen  on  the  roadside  in  Nyungwe  (Callan  Cohen  / www. 
birdingafrica.com) 

Le  Cercopitheque  de  l’Hoest  Cercopithecus  Ihoesti  peut 
etre  observe  le  long  de  la  route  qui  traverse  Nyungwe 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Figure  14.  Ruwenzori  Batis  Batis  diops  favours  the  lower 
and  mid  levels  in  the  forest  of  Nyungwe  National  Park 
(Callan  Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 

Le  Pririt  du  Ruwenzori  Batis  diops  frequente  les  strates 
basses  et  moyennes  de  la  foret  de  Nyungwe  (Callan 
Cohen  / www.birdingafrica.com) 


Hemitesia  neumanni,  Grauer’s  Swamp  Warbler, 
Red-collared  Babbler  and  Purple-breasted 
Sunbird. 

Habitats. — Nyungwe  encompasses  almost 
1,000  km2  of  montane  forest  and  heaths  at 
1,600-2,950  m elevation. 

Getting  there. — Situated  in  the  south-west  of 
the  country  on  the  border  with  Burundi,  the  park 
takes  about  3-4  hours  to  reach  on  mostly  good  tar 
roads  from  Kigali. 

Top  birding  areas.  (1)  Roadside  birding. — The 
main  road  between  Butare  and  Cyangugu  runs 
through  the  park  for  55  km  and  the  undulating 
terrain  boasts  spectacular  scenery,  with  unbroken 
forest  stretching  into  the  hazy  distance.  It  also 
facilitates  birding,  with  opportunities  to  observe 
canopy  species  at  eye-level  on  the  steeper  slopes. 
Soaring  raptors  to  look  for  include  African  Cuckoo 
Hawk  Aviceda  cuculoides , African  Harrier  Hawk 
Polyboroides  typus,  African  Goshawk  Accipiter 
tachiro , Mountain  Buzzard  Buteo  oreophilus, 
Cassin’s  Spizaetus  africanns  and  Ayres’s  Hawk 
Eagles  Hieraaetus  ayresii  and  Crowned  Eagle 
Stephanoaetus  coronatus. 

A host  of  the  commoner  Albertine  Rift  endemics 
can  be  found  in  the  roadside  tangles  at  the  forest 
edge  including  Ruwenzori  Apalis  ruwenzorii  and 
Mountain  Masked  Apalises  A.  personata , Yellow- 
eyed Black  Flycatcher  Melaenornis  ardesiacus, 
Ruwenzori  Batis  Batis  diops,  and  Blue-headed 
Cyanomitra  alinae  and  Regal  Sunbirds  Cinnyris 
regius.  One  of  the  more  interesting  endemics 
is  Grauer’s  Warbler  Graueria  vittata , the  sole 
member  of  its  genus.  This  rather  secretive,  dull 
grey  bird  of  dense  tangles  and  creepers  is  best 
located  by  its  soft  trilling  call,  which  is  remarkably 
similar  to  that  of  a Scaly-throated  Honeyguide 
Indicator  variegatus.  The  sweet  warbles  ol  African 
Hill  Babbler  Pseudoalcippe  abyssinica  emanate 
from  these  tangles  too.  Tambourine  Dove  Turtur 
tympanistria,  Olive  Thrush  Turdus  olivaceus, 
Collared  Sunbird  Hedydipna  collaris  and  African 
Yellow  White-eye  Zosterops  senegalensis  are 
common. 

Great  Blue  Turaco  Coiythaeola  cristata  is 
commonly  seen  from  the  road  and  the  forest 
rings  to  the  raucous  calls  of  Black-billed  Turaco 
Tauraco  schuettii.  Nyungwe  must  be  one  of  the 
best  places  to  see  the  bizarre  Ruwenzori  Turaco 
Ruwenzorornis  johnstoni,  which  possesses  an 
atypical,  squirrel-like  call  and  is  placed  in  its 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 233 


own  genus.  Also  in  the  treetops  are  Waller’s 
Onychognathus  walleri,  Slender-billed  0. 
temiirostris,  Stuhlmann’s  Poeoptera  stuhlmanni 
and  Sharpe’s  Starlings  Pholia  sharpii.  Scan  from 
the  valley  viewpoints  for  these  species,  as  weli 
as  for  African  Olive  Pigeon  Columba  arquatrix 
and  Black-and-white-casqued  Hornbill 
Bycanistes  subcylindricus,  whilst  the  calls  of  Barred 
Long-tailed  Cuckoo  Cercococcyx  montanus 
and  Yellow-rumped  Pogoniulus  bilineatus  and 
Western  Green  Tinkerbirds  P.  coryphaeus  ring 
out  below. 

Nyungwe  is  rich  in  bushshrikes,  with  Doherty’s 
Bushshrike  Telophorus  dohertyi  and  Mountain 
Sooty  Boubou  Laniarius  poensis  common  in 
tangles  throughout,  and  Liihder’s  Bushshrike 
Laniarius  luehderi  at  lower  elevations.  Higher 
in  the  tangles,  watch  out  for  the  buff-breasted 
morph  ol  Many-coloured  Bushshrike  Telophorus 
midticolor,  which  is  confined  to  the  southern 
Albertine  Rift,  and  Yellowbill  Ceuthmochares 
aereus.  Look  out  too  in  these  higher  tangles 
and  the  canopy  for  Chestnut-throated  Apalis 
porphyrolaema,  Grey  A.  cinerea  and  Black- 
throated  Apalises  A.  jacksoni. 

Chubb’s  Cisticola  Cisticola  chubbi,  Yellow- 
bellied  Estrilda  quartinia  and  Black-headed 
Waxbills  E.  atricapilla  and  Streaky  Seedeater 
Serinus  striolatus  are  common  in  disturbed  open 
areas  along  the  roadsides,  where  Cinnamon- 
chested Bee-eater  Merops  oreobates,  White-eyed 
Slaty  Melaenornis  fischeri  and  African  Dusky 
Flycatchers  Muscicapa  adusta  can  be  seen  hawking 
and  Black  Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne  pristoptera 
is  common.  Most  of  the  understorey  ‘skulkers’ 
are  most  easily  seen  along  the  trails  described 
later,  but  it  might  be  worth  noting  that  we  have 
observed  Grey-winged  Robin  Chat  Cossypha 
polioptera  along  the  main  road  at  02°48.672”S 
29°13.373”E. 

After  dark,  Ruwenzori  Nightjar  Caprimulgus 
ruwenzorii  can  be  seen  along  the  road,  while 
African  Wood  Owl  Strix  woodfordu  and,  with 
some  luck,  Fraser’s  Eagle  Owl  Bubo  poensis  can 
be  heard. 

(2)  U wink  a (02°47.8 67”S  29°20.066”E; 
parking  lot  adjacent  to  the  headquarters). — There 
is  a wonderful  network  of  trails  through  the  forest, 
centred  on  the  park  headquarters  at  Uwinka. 
Canopy  birding  will  be  further  enhanced  with  the 
construction  of  a canopy  walkway  at  Uwinka  due 


to  be  completed  in  late  2010,  and  plans  are  afoot 
to  erect  canopy  towers  at  other  strategic  sites. 
The  short  walk  from  the  parking  to  the  reception 
can  be  a good  area  to  spot  commoner  Albertine 
Rift  endemics,  including  Red-faced  Woodland 
Warbler  Phylloscopus  laetus  and  Ruwenzori  Batis, 
and  look  out  for  Handsome  Francolin  Francolinus 
nobilis  on  the  edges  of  the  road  at  dawn  and  dusk 
(the  francolin  occurs  widely  throughout  the  forest 
but  is  more  easily  heard  than  seen).  Red-collared 
Babbler  actually  occurs  quite  widely  in  Nyungwe 
and  has  been  seen  along  the  forest  trails  here 
too,  but  is  more  reliable  on  the  Bigugu  Trail  (see 
below). 

(3)  Bigugu  trail  (02°47.362”S  29°23.964”E; 
start  of  the  trail  at  the  road). — The  trail  that 
leads  to  Mount  Bigugu,  the  highest  point  in 
Nyungwe,  is  one  of  the  best  sites  in  the  world 
for  Red-collared  Babbler.  Nyungwe  is  the 
only  forest  outside  Congo-Kinshasa  where  this 
gorgeous  species  occurs,  and  like  White-throated 
Mountain  Babbler  Kupeornis  gilberti  of  south- 
west Cameroon,  it  roves  through  the  forest  in 
small  family  groups,  gleaning  insects  among 
epiphytes  on  large  branches.  Parties  maintain 
contact  with  soft  churrs,  which  can  become 
a harsh  babbler-like  cacophony  in  excitement. 
The  babblers  are  often  associated  with  canopy 
flocks  also  comprising  Narina’s  Apaloderma 
narina  and  Bar-tailed  Trogons  A.  vittatum, 
White-headed  Woodhoopoe  Phoeniculus  bollei, 
Tullberg’s  Woodpecker  Campethera  tullbergi, 
Grey  Cuckooshrike  Coracina  caesia.  Eastern 
Mountain  Greenbul  Andropadusnigriceps,  Yellow- 
streaked  Greenbul  Phyllastrephus  flavostriatus, 
Chinspot  Batis  Batis  molitor  (a  canopy  species  in 
Nyungwe),  Stripe-breasted  Tit  Parus  fasciiventer, 
Lagden’s  Bushshrike  Malaconotus  lagdeni  and 
Montane  Oriole  Oriolus  percivali.  Denser  tangles 
shelter  Yellow-whiskered  Greenbul  Andropadus 
latirostris,  White-browed  Crombec  Sylvietta 
leucophrys  and  Grauer’s  Warbler. 

Some  of  the  most  exciting  species  occur  in 
the  understorey:  listen  out  for  White-starred 
Robin  Pogonocichla  stellata,  Equatorial  Akalat 
Sheppardia  aequatorialis , Archer’s  Robin  Chat 
Cossypha  archeri  (with  its  distinctive,  tremulous 
call),  Red-throated  Alethe  (the  latter  especially  at 
ant  swarms)  and  Mountain  Illadopsis  Illadopsis 
pyrrhoptera.  Dusky  Crimsonwing  Cryptospiza 
jacksoni  may  flush  from  the  forest  path  at  the  edges 


234  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Primates  of  Nyungwe 

Nyungwe  is  also  well  known  for  its  primates 
with  1 1 diurnal  species  present.  Chimpanzee 
Pun  t)  oglodytes  occurs  throughout  and  can  be 
searched  ior  here  or  at  the  nearby  lower  altitude 
Cyamudongo  Forest.  The  Uwinka  area  is 
famous  for  its  large  troop  of  some  400  Angola 
Pied  Colobus  Colobus  ungolensis  rwenzori. 
Nyungwe  must  be  one  of  the  best  places  to  see 
l’Hoest’s  Monkey  Cercopithecus  Ihoesti,  which 
is  often  present  along  roadsides.  Also  watch  for 
Grey-cheeked  Mangabey  Cercocebus  albigena 
johnstoni , Blue  Monkey  Cercopithecus  mitis 
doggetti,  Mona  Monkey  C.  mona,  Red-tailed 
Monkey  C.  ascanius  schmidti , Vervet  Monkey 
C.  (, aethiops ) pygerythrus  and  Olive  Baboon 
Papio  anubis.  Golden  Monkey  Cercopithecus 
mitis  kandti  and  Owl-faced  Monkey  C. 
hamlyni  are  shy  and  little-known  residents, 
mainly  found  in  the  bamboo  zone  and  seldom 
seen.  Note  that  Eastern  Gorilla  Gorilla  beringei 
no  longer  occurs  here  and  is  best  searched  for 
at  Volcanoes  National  Park,  which  also  hosts 
a selection  of  Aibertine  Rift  endemics  and  lies 
on  the  northern  border  adjacent  to  Mgahinga 
National  Park  in  Uganda. 

of  clearings  anywhere,  but  more  luck  is  required 
to  find  its  much  more  elusive  relative,  Shelley’s 
Crimsonwing  C.  shelleyi.  Dense  scrub  at  the  edge 
of  clearings  is  inhabited  by  the  vocal  Cinnamon 
Bracken  Warbler  Bradypterus  cinnamomeus, 
Mountain  Yellow  Warbler  Chloropeta  similis  and 
Banded  Prinia  Prinia  bairdii. 

(4)  Kamiranzovu  Marsh  (02°48.897”S 
29°16.011”E;  start  of  the  trail,  and  02°48.582”S 
29015.271”E;  main  marsh). — A trail  leads  down 
to  this  spectacular  marsh,  which  extends  over 
13  km2  in  a valley  bottom  and  supports  a large 
population  of  the  localised  and  threatened 
Grauer’s  Swamp  Warbler.  This  rare  warbler  is 
easily  seen  here,  drawing  the  attention  by  virtue 
of  its  low  whirring  display-flight.  The  picturesque 
forest  surrounding  the  marsh  literally  drips  with 
epiphytes  and  there  have  been  several  sightings 
of  the  almost  mythical  Aibertine  Owlet  here. 
Listen  too  for  Red-chested  Owlet  Glaucidium 
tephronotum,  which  is  widespread  at  Nyungwe 
and  often  attracts  mobbing  groups  of  small 
birds.  Some  of  Africa’s  most  desired  understorey 


‘skulkers’  occur  here  too:  listen  out  for  Kivu 
Ground  Thrush  Zoothera  ( piaggiae ) tanganjicae, 
the  unique  short-tailed  Neumann’s  Warbler  and 
Grey-chested  Illadopsis  Kakamega  poliothorax. 
Strange  Weaver  Ploceus  alienus  occurs  in  the 
tangles  here  (and  elsewhere  in  the  forest),  noisily 
investigating  clusters  of  leaves. 

(5)  Karamba  area  (02°47.882”S  29°11.168”E; 
start  of  trail). — This  level  trail  leads  through  quite 
open  forest  and  forest  edge  and  has  many  of  the 
roadside  species  mentioned  earlier,  although  it 
is  worth  checking  canopy  flocks  for  Kungwe 
Apalis  especially,  and  White-bellied  Robin  Chat 
Cossyphicida  roberti  can  be  found  in  the  first 
patch  of  forest.  The  incredibly  iridescent  Purple- 
breasted Sunbird  breeds  at  the  forest  edge  here. 
Open  areas  are  worth  checking  for  Scarce  Swift 
Schoutedenapus  myoptilus  and  musing  about  the 
possibility  of  the  very  similar  Schouteden’s  Swift 
S.  schoutedeni. 

(6)  Rangiro  Road  (02°47.672”S  29°20.590”E; 
start  of  the  road,  02°47.577”S  29°20.732”E;  huge 
Symphonia  tree,  and  02°47.672”S  29°20.590”E; 
start  of  lower  altitude  forest). — Much  of  the 
lower  elevation  forest  has  been  replaced  by  tea 
plantations,  but  some  remains  below  Uwinka 
and  a rough  but  driveable  road  leads  through 
these  remnants.  Near  the  start  of  the  descent, 
a huge  Symphonia  tree  (flowers  reliably  in  July) 
attracts  many  sunbirds  including  regular  Purple- 
breasted Sunbird.  Dwarf  Honeyguide  Indicator 
pumilio  has  been  recorded  here  too.  In  the  lower 
forest  patch,  there  is  less  of  a montane  ‘feel’ 
to  the  birding,  and  species  include  Elliott’s 
Woodpecker  Dendropicos  elliotii,  Shelley’s 
Greenbul  Andropadus  masukuensis,  Dusky  Tit 
Parus  funereus , White-breasted  Negrofinch 
Nigrita  fusconotus  and  Yellow-breasted  Hyliota  in 
the  forest  canopy.  The  shy  Shelley’s  Crimsonwing 
has  been  seen  here,  but  can  be  found  anywhere  in 
the  park. 

(7)  Uwasenkoko  Marsh  (02°52.857”S 
29°35.297”E). — This  small,  high-altitude  marsh 
spans  the  main  road  and  is  certainly  the  most 
accessible  place  to  see  Grauer’s  Swamp  Warbler. 
Red-chested  Flufftail  Sarothrura  rnfa  can  be 
heard  ‘hooting’  from  the  dense  grass.  In  the 
surrounding  shrublands,  Brown  Woodland 
Warbler  Phylloscopus  umbrovirens  and  Ruwenzori 
Double-collared  Sunbird  occur.  Don’t  be 
misled  by  the  smaller  Northern  Double-collared 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 235 


Sunbird  Cinnyris  reichenowi,  which  occurs 
throughout  much  of  the  park  and  is  especially 
common  around  the  guesthouse  at  Gisakura. 

Recommended  guides  include. — Claver 
Ntoyinka. 

Recommended  accommodation.— More 

accommodation  is  planned,  but  for  now  there 
are  two  guesthouses  at  Gisakura  (one  on  a private 
tea  estate)  and  it  is  also  possible  to  stay  in  one  of 
the  many  hotels  in  Cyangugu,  on  the  shores  of 
Lake  Kivu,  and  commute  just  over  an  hour  to  the 
forest.  Camping  is  possible  at  Uwinka. 

Akagera  National  Park 

With  some  525  species,  Akagera  formerly  boasted 
one  of  the  largest  bird  lists  of  any  protected 
area  in  Africa.  However,  more  than  half  the 
park  was  degazetted  in  1997  to  accommodate 
returning  refugees,  a pattern  that  is  likely  to 
be  repeated  more  widely  across  Africa  as  other 
countries  inevitably  begin  to  experience  the 
same  phenomenal  population  densities  and  land 
pressures  operating  in  Rwanda.  However,  the 
remaining  area  of  park  is  still  close  to  1,100  knr 
and  offers  great  birding.  Widespread  savannah 
and  wetland  birds  dominate  the  area’s  avifauna, 
but  there  are  a few  more  localised  species,  making 
the  park  a great  compliment  to  the  montane  forest 
birding  of  Nyungwe. 

Top  birds. — Shoebill,  Ring-necked 
Francolin  Francolinus  streptophorus,  Red-faced 
Barbet,  ‘Ruaha’  Chat,  White-winged  Swamp 
Warbler  Bradypterus  carpalis,  Miombo  Wren 
Warbler  Calamonastes  undosus,  Tabora  Cisticola 
Cisticola  angusticauda , Papyrus  Gonolek  Laniarius 
mufumbiri. 

Habitats. — A diversity  of  lowland  habitats, 
ranging  from  vast  swamps  and  lakes  on  the 
Akagera  floodplain,  through  riparian  thickets,  dry 
forest  and  woodland,  to  grassy  plains  and  rocky 
hills. 

Getting  there. — Situated  on  Rwanda’s  eastern 
border  with  Tanzania,  Akagera  is  a three-hour 
drive  from  Kigali  (mostly  on  tarmac  roads).  Given 
the  relatively  rough  tracks  through  much  of  the 
reserve,  it  requires  several  days  to  explore  the  more 
remote  northern  parts  of  the  park. 

Top  birding  areas.  ( 1 ) Final  section  of  dirt 
road  before  the  park  (01°97.869”S  30°58.030”E; 
‘Ruaha’  Chat,  and  01°96.255”S  30°58.981”E; 
river  crossing). — Once  you  leave  the  tarmac  road, 


numerous  widespread  savannah  birds  can  be  found 
in  the  degraded  woodland  and  agricultural  areas. 
Probably  most  interesting  is  the  so-called  ‘Ruaha’ 
Chat,  the  local  taxon  of  White-headed  Black 
Chat  Myrmecocichla  arnotti , which  Glen  et  al.  (in 
press)  argue  should  be  afforded  species  status  due 
to  its  genetic  distinctness  and  the  diagnostic  white 
cheeks  and  collar  in  the  female.  Unlike  White- 
headed  Black  Chat,  which  prefers  natural  miombo, 
this  chat  is  common  around  small  villages  and 
breeds  in  the  roofs  of  houses.  Entering  the  more 
pristine  grassy  broadleaf  woodlands  of  the  park, 
it  is  replaced  by  Sooty  Chat  M.  nigra.  White- 
collared  Oliveback  Nesocharis  ansorgei  has  been 
recorded  at  a river  crossing  and  Miombo  Wren 
Warbler  in  denser  bush  at  the  park  entrance. 

(2)  Slopes  below  Akagera  Lodge  (01°87.922”S 
30°70.960”E). — Akagera  Lodge  is  sited  atop  a 
rocky  ridge  overlooking  Lake  Ihema  and  its 
grounds  teem  with  many  woodland  birds.  Red- 
faced  Barbet  can  be  seen  in  fruiting  trees  here, 
and  should  also  be  searched  for  in  the  grassy 
woodlands  below  the  lodge.  Rocky  ridges  support 
small  numbers  of  the  scarce  and  reclusive  Ring- 
necked Francolin,  which  is  best  separated  from 
the  more  widespread  Shelley’s  Francolinus  shelleyi. 
Red-winged  F.  levaillantii  and  Coqui  Francolins 
F.  coqui , and  Red-necked  Spurfowl  F.  afer  by  its 
peculiar  call.  Tabora  Cisticola,  Souza’s  Shrike 
Lanius  souzae  and  Orange-winged  Pytilia  Pytilia 
afra  have  been  recorded  in  these  woodlands  too. 

(3)  Lake  Ihema  (01°88.228”S  30“73.823”E).— 
The  shores  of  this  vast  lake  support  a huge 
diversity  of  birds,  not  only  in  the  grassy  edges  but 
also  the  taller  forest  flanking  the  shores. 

{4)  Papyrus  swamp  (01°82.885”S 
30°74.336”E). — This  is  an  excellent  spot  for 
White-winged  Swamp  Warbler,  Carruther’s 
Cisticola  Cisticola  carruthersi  and  Papyrus 
Gonolek,  all  which  skulk  in  the  large  papyrus 
swamps  here  (be  mindful  of  African  Buffalo 
Syncerus  cajfer).  Papyrus  Canary  Serinus  koliensis 
also  occurs,  but  the  curiously  localised  Papyrus 
Yellow  Warbler  Chloropeta  gracilirostris  is 
surprisingly  absent  from  the  park  list.  It  is, 
however,  found  at  other  wetlands  in  Rwanda, 
including  Rugezi  Marsh  in  the  north  and  at  least 
two  marshes  south  of  Kigali. 

(5)  Shoebill  scanning  point  at  Lake  Birengero 
(01°81.507”S  30°74.230”E). — The  park  has  a 
small  resident  population  of  Shoebills,  but  access 


236  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


to  their  swamps  is  restricted  to  a few  vantage 
points,  and  it  is  a matter  of  luck  whether  any  are 
visible.  We  recommend  scanning  the  far  edges  of 
the  lake  at  this  point.  The  area  is  apparently  very 
difficult  to  reach  by  boat  because  the  lake  is  too 
shallow. 

Recommended  guides  include. — James 

Muhizi. 

Recommended  accommodation. — Options 
are  limited,  but  Akagera  Lodge  offers  upmarket 
and  very  well-sited  accommodation. 

Acknowledgements 

The  Rwanda  Tourism  Board  sponsored  much  of  our 
travel  costs  in  Rwanda,  and  many  of  our  observations 
were  shared  with  Rainer  Summers,  Glen  Valentine 
and  Ray  Tipper.  The  last-named  is  also  thanked 
for  permission  to  publish  his  Red-collared  Babbler 
photograph. 

Bibliography 

Dowsett,  R.  J.  (ed.)  1990.  Survey  of  the  Fauna  and  Flora 
ofNyungwe  Forest , Rwanda.  Tauraco  Res.  Rep.  3. 
Liege:  Tauraco  Press. 

Glen,  R.,  Bowie,  R.  C.  K.,  Stolberger,  S.  & Voelker, 
G.  in  press.  Geographically  structured  plumage 
variation  among  populations  of  White-headed 
Black  Chat  ( Myrmecocichla  arnotti)  in  Tanzania 
confirms  the  race  collaris  to  be  a valid  taxon.  J. 
Ornithol. 


Offut,  K.,  Masozera,  M.  & Gill,  E.  undated.  Nyungwe 
National  Park  Guide.  Kigali:  Nyungwe  Forest 
Conservation  Project  & New  York:  Wildlife 
Conservation  Society. 

Plumptre,  A.  J.,  Masozera,  M.,  Fashing,  P.  J.,  McNeilage, 
A.,  Ewango,  C.,  Kaplin,  B.  A.  & Liengola,  I.  2002. 
Biodiversity  Surveys  of  the  Nyungwe  Forest  Reserve 
in  S.W.  Rwanda.  WCS  Working  Papers  18.  New 
York:  Wildlife  Conservation  Society. 

Stattersfield,  A.  J.,  Crosby,  M.  J.,  Long,  A.  J.  & Wege, 
D.  C.  1998.  Endemic  Bird  Areas  of  the  World: 
Priorities  for  Biodiversity  Conservation.  Cambridge, 
UK:  BirdLife  International. 

Vande  weghe,  J.  P.  1 990.  Akagera:  Land  of  Water,  Grass 
and  Fire.  Brussels:  WWF. 

‘ Birding  Africa,  www.birdingafrica.com.  E-mail:  callan@ 
birdingafrica 

bDST/NRF  Centre  of  Excellence  at  the  Percy  FitzPatrick 
Institute  of  African  Ornithology,  University  of  Cape 
Town,  Rondebosch  7701,  South  Africa. 
c PO  Box  181,  Musanze,  Rwanda. 
d ORTPN,  PO  Box  7,  Gikongoro,  Rwanda. 

Received  26  June  2010. 


Birding  Rwanda:  Cohen  et  al. 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 237 


www.birdingafrica.com 


Rwanda 

ABC  Conservation  Fund  Tour 

23  - 30  July  201 1 (8  days) 


Bird  Nyungwe  Forest  & Akagera: 
Africa’s  Albertine  Rift  Endemics  hotspot 
combined  with  one  of  Africa’s  most 
diverse  parks. 

Target  Red-collared  Babbler,  Shoebill, 
Red-faced  Barbet,  Purple-breasted  Sunbird 
& up  to  25  Albertine  Rift  Endemics. 
Optional  Mountain  Gorilla  extension. 

Birding  Africa  ranks  as  one  of  the  TOP  5 
most  recommended  bird  tour  companies 
worldwide  (Birdwatch  magazine  2010)  and 
has  run  3 ABC  Conservation  Tours: 
Angola,  Sao  Tome  & Principe,  Gabon. 

Support  the  ABC  Conservation  Fund 
as  you  bird  off  the  beaten  track! 


• _< 

v“Sr- 1 


More  details?  Contact  Callan  Cohen 
Email  abcconservation@birdingafrica.com 
Phone  +27  21  531  91  48 


238  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


Recent  Reports 


These  are  largely  unconfirmed 
records  published  for  interest  only; 
records  are  mostly  from  late  2009 
and  early  2010,  with  a few  from 
earlier  dates.  We  thank  all  birders 
who  have  sent  in  their  records  and 
urge  them  to  submit  full  details  to 
the  relevant  national  or  regional 
organisations.  It  is  suggested  that 
observations  of  each  species  be 
compared  with  relevant  literature 
to  set  new  data  in  context  and  that 
observers  who  are  unfamiliar  with 
the  status  of  birds  in  a particular 
country  refer  to  the  ABC  country 


checklists  (www.africanbirdclub.org/ 
countries/ checklists/index. html)  or 
more  recent  or  appropriate  sources 
before  submitting  records. 


Les  observations  ci-apres  sont  en 
majeure  partie  non  confirmees  et 
sont  publiees  uniquement  dans  le 
but  d informer.  La  plupart  des 
donnees  sont  de  fin  2009  et  debut 
2010  ; quelques-unes  sont  plus 
anciennes.  Nous  remercions  tous 
les  ornithologues  qui  ont  pris  la 
peine  de  nous  faire  parvenir  leurs 


donnees  et  nous  recommandons  de 
les  envoyer,  dument  documentees, 
aux  organisations  nationales 
ou  regionales  concernees.  II  est 
conseille  de  verifier  le  statut  des 
especes  observees  dans  la  litterature 
appropriee,  afin  de  mettre  les 
nouvelles  donnees  en  perspective, 
et  de  consulter  notamment  les 
‘checklists’  des  pays  africains  de 
l’ABC  (www.africanbirdclub.org/ 
countries/ checklists/index.html) 
ou  des  sources  plus  recentes  ou 
appropriees. 


Algeria 

Noteworthy  species  observed  during 
a short  visit  on  25-29  October  2009 
included  several  thousand  Cory’s 
Shearwaters  Calonectris  diomedea  off 
Jijel,  a Eurasian  Griffon  Vulture 
Gyps  fulvus  circling  around  the  crags 
between  Constantine  and  Jijel,  a 
Water  Rail  Rallus  aquaticus  and 
a Eurasian  Penduline  Tit  Remiz 
pendidinus  at  El  Kala  National  Park, 
and  three  Algerian  Nuthatches  Sitta 
ledanti  in  Tamantut  Forest  {HB). 

Azores 

The  following  records  are  from 
November  2009— May  2010.  A pale- 
rnorph  Trindade  Petrel  Pterodroma 
arminjoniana  was  photographed 
eight  nautical  miles  off  Ponta  da 
Queimada,  Pico,  on  24  April,  whilst 
a dark  morph  was  seen  between 
Pico  and  Faial  on  8 May;  the  sixth 
and  seventh  records  since  July  1997 
suggest  that  the  species  may  occur 
more  frequently  in  the  eastern 
Atlantic  than  previously  thought. 

A long-staying  adult  Pied-billed 
Grebe  Podilymbus  podiceps  at  Lagoa 
das  Furnas,  Sao  Miguel,  first  seen 
on  9 November  2008,  was  still  there 
with  a first-year  (since  29  October) 
in  February;  a third  was  at  Lagoa 
Azul  from  15  November  to  at  least 


10  January;  one  remained  on  Sao 
Miguel  into  May.  At  Mosteiros,  Sao 
Miguel,  an  adult  Brown  Booby  Sula 
leucogaster  and  up  to  two  Double- 
crested  Cormorants  Phalacrocorax 
auritus  were  present  from  8 
November  until  February.  A Great 
Blue  Heron  Ardea  herodias  stayed 
at  Paul  da  Praia,  Terceira,  from 
15  February  until  at  least  10  May. 
The  influx  of  Blue-winged  Teal 
Anas  discors  tapered  off  with  c. 27 
still  present  in  early  November  and 
seven  at  the  end  of  the  month.  The 
fifth  Hooded  Merganser  Lophodytes 
cucullatus  for  the  Azores  was  at 
Ponta  Delgada,  Sao  Miguel,  from  28 
December  to  at  least  29  March. 

An  adult  Purple  Gallinule 
Porphyrio  martinica  was  on  Graciosa 
from  9 January  until  at  least  7 
February,  whilst  an  American  Coot 
Fidica  americana  was  on  Sao  Miguel 
from  16  January  until  at  least  26 
March.  Up  to  three  Semipalmated 
Plovers  Charadrius  semipalmatus 
stayed  at  Cabo  da  Praia,  Terceira, 
from  14  January.  Up  to  three 
Killdeers  C.  vociferus  at  Corvo 
airport  on  10  January  constituted 
the  1 1 th  record  for  the  Azores;  up 
to  two  were  there  on  24  February, 
whilst  one  was  seen  on  Faial  on  26 
February.  An  adult  Bonaparte’s  Gull 


Larus  Philadelphia  occurred  at  Praia 
da  Vitoria,  Terceira,  on  25  February 
and  a Glaucous  Gull  L.  hyperboreus 
was  still  at  Ponta  Delgada,  Sao 
Miguel,  on  9 April.  As  in  previous 
years,  a Bridled  Tern  Sterna 
anaethetus  was  present  on  Ilheu  de 
Santo  Antonio,  Pico,  in  May.  On 
Flores,  Rose-breasted  Grosbeaks 
Pheucticus  ludovicianus  were  observed 
at  Ponta  Delgada  on  22  April  (a 
male),  Fajazinha  on  10-19  May  (a 
female)  and  Campo  Municipal  da 
Iajes  das  Flores  on  20  May  (a  male) 
(per  Birding  World  23:  148  &198; 
Dutch  Birding  32:  52-56,  135-138, 
203-214). 

Benin 

Records  from  October  2009-June 
2010  include  the  following.  A 
visit  to  the  ‘W’  National  Park  on 
3-10  February  2010  produced 
the  following  new  records  for 
the  W complex  {cf  Balanqa  et  al. 
2007.  Les  Oiseaux  du  Complexe 
WAP):  Ovambo  Sparrowhawk 
Accipiter  ovampensis  (one  near  Mare 
25),  White-throated  Francolin 
Francolinus  albogularis  (one  seen  at 
close  range  in  the  Mekrou  Reserve), 
African  Moustached  Warbler 
Melocichla  mentalis  (Mare  Boni), 
Yellow-breasted  Apalis  Apalis  flavida 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 239 


(riparian  forest  on  the  Mekrou 
River),  Pied  Flycatcher  Ficedula 
hypoleuca  (regularly  encountered 
in  riparian  vegetation),  Yellow 
Penduline  Tit  Anthoscopus  parvulus 
(southern  woodland),  Western 
Violet-backed  Sunbird  Anthreptes 
longuemarei  (Mekrou  River  at 
Mekrou),  Emin’s  Shrike  Lanius 
gubernator  (a  female  in  open  wooded 
grassland,  Mekrou  Reserve),  Red- 
headed Weaver  Anaplectes  melanotis 
(two  nests  near  Keremou),  Black- 
winged Bishop  Euplectes  hordeaceus 
(flocks  near  Mare  25  and  Point 
Triple),  Bar-breasted  Firefinch 
Lagonosticta  rufopicta  (in  riparian 
woodland  at  Chutes  de  Koudou), 
Barka  Indigobird  Vidua  larvaticola 
(in  breeding  dress,  near  Mare  25) 
{FD-L  &RJD). 

New  species  for  Pendjari  National 
Park  recorded  on  10-17  February 
2010  include:  White-backed  Night 
Fleron  Gorsachius  leuconotus  (two 
on  the  edge  of  Mare  des  Canards 
(FD-L,  RJDJM&SM),  Ovambo 
Sparrowhawk  (one  displaying  near 
Mare  Yangouali),  Green  Turaco 
Tauraco  persa  (present  in  evergreen 
riparian  forest  on  the  Atakora 
escarpment  at  Batia,  likely  to  be  the 
northern  limit  of  its  range)  ( FD-L 
& RJD),  Swallow- tailed  Bee-eater 
Merops  hirundineus  (one  t.5  km  west 
of  the  park  entrance  at  Batia;  JM  & 
SAL),  Mottled  Swift  Fachymarptis 
aequatorialis  (one  drinking  in  Mare 
Sacree  is  a first  record  for  Benin; 
FD-L,  RJD,  JM  & SM),  Preuss’s 
Cliff  Swallow  Hirundo  preussi  (Mare 
Bali;  FD-L  & RJD),  Black-backed 
Cisticola  Cisticola  eximius  (a  pair 
in  grassland,  Circuit  Fogou,  first 
definite  record  for  Benin;  FD-L, 

RJD,  JM  & SM)  and  Togo  Paradise 
Whydah  Vidua  togoensis  (a  male  at 
Camp  des  Elephants,  moulting  out  of 
dress  on  14  February;  FD-L  & RJD). 
Additional  new  species,  observed  on 
3-5  April  are  White-fronted  Black 
Chat  Myrmecocichla  albijrons  (a  male 
and  several  females  along  the  track 
from  Porga  to  the  Batia  entrance) 
and  Bronze-tailed  Glossy  Starling 
Lamprotornis  chalcurus  (one  on 
Circuit  Fogou)  (JM  & SM). 

Other  records  from  the  north 
include  Melodious  Warblers 


Hippolais  polyglotta  at  Didani  (4 
km  west  of  Cobly,  Atakora),  Cobly 
and  Touga  in  late  November-early 
December,  a singing  Rufous 
Cisticola  Cisticola  rufus  on  a treetop 
at  Didani  on  6 June,  and  an  Ortolan 
Bunting  Emberiza  hortidana  in 
the  mountains  east  of  Cobly  on  14 
November  (JM  & SM). 

Records  from  the  south  include 
the  following.  On  Nokoue  Lake, 
a Ramsar  Site  north  of  Cotonou, 

1 1 heron  species  were  observed  in 
noteworthy  numbers,  including  c.90 
Black  Herons  Egretta  ardesiaca  on 
17  February  (BP).  A flock  c.  100 
African  Openbills  Anastomus 
lamelligerus  was  seen  on  25  October 
and  c.200  on  14  March  ( WP );  groups 
usually  comprise  30-35  birds  (BP). 
On  17  February,  a Great  Snipe 
Gallinago  media  and  a Marsh  Owl 
Asio  capensis  were  flushed  at  Plaine 
du  So,  Basse  Vallee  de  l’Oueme 
(BP).  Another  Marsh  Owl  was  seen 
near  the  Hotel  Germain  at  Ganvie 
on  23  January  (AFo,  DF,  JCB).  On 
14  and  21  March,  three  Forbes’s 
Plovers  Charadrius  forbesi  were 
observed  at  Plaine  du  So,  with  two 
Greater  Painted-snipes  Rostratula 
benghalensis  also  there  on  24  April 
(WP);  an  African  Crake  Crex  egregia 
was  present  on  1-14  May  (WP, 

BP).  Collared  Pratincoles  Glareola 
pratincola  are  common  in  the  area, 
with  a maximum  of  c.  100  on  15 
November.  Black  Chlidonias  niger 
and  Whiskered  Terns  C.  hybridus 
are  also  frequent,  with  maximum  of 
30  Black  on  25  October  and  at  least 
ten  Whiskered  on  24  April  (WP). 
Flocks  of  Whiskered  Terns  were  also 
observed  on  Aheme  Lake,  with  21 
birds  on  26  February  and  35  two 
days  later;  most  were  moulting  into 
summer  plumage,  with  one  already 
in  full  breeding  dress.  A flock  of  up 
to  200  first-summer  Black  Terns  was 
in  Cotonou  at  the  mouth  of  Nokoue 
Lake  from  6 May  2009  until  at 
least  mid  September.  On  24  April, 
a group  of  6—7  Sooty  / Bridled 
Terns  Sterna  Jiiscata  / anaethetus  was 
seen  close  to  the  beach  at  Cotonou 
(BP).  On  21  March,  two  Banded 
Martins  Riparia  cincta  (possibly 
the  first  for  Benin)  were  seen 
amongst  a flock  of  other  hirundines 


(WP).  A Greater  Swamp  Warbler 

Acrocephalus  rufescens  was  heard 
and  seen  well  at  Plaine  du  So  on  17 
February.  A presumably  ship-assisted 
House  Crow  Corvus  splendens  was 
discovered  in  Cotonou  harbour  on  6 
February  and  seen  again  on  12  May 
amongst  a group  of  Pied  Crows  C. 
albus  (BP);  this  appears  to  be  the 
first  record  for  Benin  of  this  invasive 
species.  Groups  of  Zebra  Waxbills 
Amandava  subflava  were  seen  in 
April-May  at  Plaine  du  So,  with  up 
to  52  together  on  14  May.  Slender- 
billed  Weaver  Ploceus  pelzelni  was 
frequent  at  Ouidah,  where  birds  were 
photographed  on  4-5  February  (AF, 
DF,  JCB)  and  at  Plaine  du  So,  where 
several  pairs  were  regularly  seen  (BP, 
WP). 

Botswana 

The  following  records  are  from 
October  2009-June  2010.  Black- 
necked Grebes  Podiceps  nigricollis 
were  at  Maun  sewage  ponds  on  19 
March  (one;  RR)  and  at  Sojwe  Pan 
on  8 May  (38;  CB).  The  major  influx 
of  African  Openbills  Anastomus 
lamelligerus  into  South  Africa  in 
November-January,  with  some 
birds  remaining  until  May,  was  also 
noticed  in  Botswana  (see  Bull.  ABC 
17:  116),  with  additional  sightings 
being  reported  from  Masetlheng 
Pan  on  9—16  December  (one;  ME), 
Bokaa  Dam  on  13  March  (one;  CB), 
Thagale  Dam  on  2 May  (five;  BLB) 
and  Gaborone  Dam  on  6 June  (one; 
IW). 

Single  Ospreys  Pandion  haliaetus 
were  at  Gaborone  Dam  on  3 
February  (IW)  and  near  Francistown 
on  5 March  (NBo)  and  single 
European  Honey  Buzzards  Pernis 
apivorus  at  Kasane  on  1 9 December 
(RP)  and  Thagale  Dam  on  23 
January  (CB).  A Pallid  Harrier 
Circus  macrourus  was  seen  at  Nata 
Sanctuary  on  26  March  (CV).  In 
Chobe  National  Park,  15  Lesser 
Kestrels  Falco  naumanni  were 
counted  on  16  March,  60  the  next 
day  (BE)  and  30+  on  18  March  (HH 
et  al.). 

Seven  Wattled  Cranes  Bugeranus 
carunculatus  were  in  Nata  Sanctuary 
on  23  December  (AF  & MM)  and 
two  on  26  March  (CV).  At  Bokaa 


240  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


Dam,  180  Black-winged  Pratincoles 

Glareola  nordmanni  were  observed 
on  10  January,  with  75  there  on 
14  March — all  had  left  by  20th; 
one  was  at  Thagale  Dam  on  23 
January  (CB).  A Common  Ringed 
Plover  Charadrius  hiaticula  was 
at  Thagale  Dam  on  2 May  (BLB) 
and  another  at  Shadishadi  Pan  on 
8 May  {CB).  Two  White-fronted 
Plovers  C.  marginatus  were  at  Maun 
sewage  ponds  on  1 0 March  {RR) 
and  another  two  at  Tshwaane  Pan 
in  2323D3,  outside  of  the  species’ 
expected  range,  on  4 April  {CB). 
Maun  sewage  ponds  attracted 
a Pectoral  Sandpiper  Calidris 
melanotos  on  6 March  {RR)  and 
Phakalane  sewage  ponds  an  African 
Skimmer  Rynchops  flavirostris  on  12 
October  {DD). 

A male  African  Emerald 
Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx  cupreus  was 
near  Maun  on  27—29  December 
{RR).  At  Mogobane  Dam,  150 
Common  House  Martins  Delichon 
urbicum  were  noted  on  18  April 
{CB).  A White-browed  Robin  Chat 
Cossypha  heuglini  was  mist-netted 
in  Francistown  on  24  April,  well 
outside  the  species'  normal  range 
{NBo).  Warbler  records  include  a 
River  Warbler  Locustella  fluviatilis 
at  Crocodile  Pools,  Notwane,  on 
12-20  March  {CB),  a Blackcap 
Sylvia  atricapilla  at  Xakanaxa  on  23 
December  {RP)  and  two  Garden 
Warblers  S.  borin  singing  from 
dense  cover  in  the  Kopong  Hills  on 
3 January,  with  one  at  Crocodile 


Pools  on  10  January  {CB).  Finally, 
two  Croaking  Cisticolas  Cisticola 
natalensis  were  observed  at  Kazuma 
Forest  Reserve  on  14  February  {RR). 

Burkina  Faso 

In  Arli  National  Park,  just  a few 
kilometres  from  the  Benin  border, 

27  African  Pygmy  Geese  Nettapus 
auritus  were  counted  on  27 
December  2009  (Fig.  1);  this  species 
is  considered  rare  in  the  park.  A 
European  Roller  Coracias  garrulus 
was  also  observed  there,  on  20-21 
December;  there  are  few  records  each 
year  {JM  & SM). 

Cameroon 

In  February  2010,  a new  species 
for  the  country  was  discovered  at 
Douala:  Rufous-tailed  Palm  Thrush 

Cichladusa  ruficauda  {KL,  GB  & 

NV). 

A visit  in  March-April  2010 
produced  the  following  records. 

A Long-tailed  Hawk  Urotriorchis 
macrourus  was  seen  at  Kodmin  on  2 
April;  this  seems  to  be  on  the  edge 
of  the  species’  range.  Two  juvenile 
Steppe  Eagles  Aquila  nipalensis  were 
identified  in  Waza  National  Park 
on  19  March;  there  are  very  few 
documented  records  for  the  park 
but  it  seems  to  be  a regular  visitor 
in  small  numbers.  A Peregrine 
Falcon  Falco  peregrinus  of  the  smaller 
resident  race  minor  was  displaying 
at  Mount  Kupe  on  4 April;  there  do 
not  seem  to  be  any  previous  records 
from  the  mountain  but  the  bird 


was  behaving  as  if  breeding  there. 

A male  Savile’s  Bustard  Eupodotis 
savilei  was  flushed  in  the  Waza 
area  on  20  March;  this  species  is 
rarely  reported  from  Cameroon.  A 
Common  Snipe  Gallinago  gallinago 
was  seen  in  Benoue  National  Park  on 
22  March  and  a White-winged  Tern 
Chlidonias  leucopterus  on  Dang  Lake 
the  next  day. 

A displaying  Green-breasted 

Pitta  Pitta  reichenowi  was  observed 
in  Korup  National  Park  on  7 
April;  this  appears  to  be  the  first 
record  for  the  park  of  this  species, 
which  has  a deeper,  flatter  voice 
than  African  Pitta  P.  angolensis. 

The  continued  presence  of  at  least 
one  pair  of  Ethiopian  Swallows 
Hirundo  aethiopica  around  the  school 
buildings  at  Nyasoso  on  4 April 
was  noted.  A male  Rufous-tailed 
Rock  Thrush  Monticola  saxatilis 
was  observed  at  Poli  on  21  April; 
this  is  a very  rare  Palearctic  visitor  to 
Cameroon.  A Great  Reed  Warbler 
Acrocephalus  arundinaceus  was  seen 
in  Benoue  National  Park  on  22 
March.  Also  there  were  a Yellow 
Penduline  Tit  Anthoscopus  parvulus, 
whilst  four  males  and  a female  Red- 
winged Pytilia  Pytilia  phoenicoptera 
were  found  next  day;  there  are  few 
records  of  these  species  from  the 
park.  Several  Chad  Firefinches 
Lagonosticta  umbrinodorsalis  were 
observed  in  the  Poli  area  (Fig.  2), 
where  the  species  was  rediscovered  in 
2007  (see  Bull.  ABC  15:  238-241). 
At  least  one  pair  of  Rock  Firefinches 


Figure  I.  African  Pygmy  Geese  / Anserelle  naine  Nettapus  auritus,  Arli  National 
Park,  Burkina  Faso,  27  December  2009  (Johannes  & Sharon  Merz) 


Figure  2.  Chad  Firefinch  / 

Amarante  de  Reichenow  Lagonosticta 
umbrinodorsalis,  Poli  area,  Cameroon, 
21  April  2010  (Nik  Borrow) 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 241 


L.  sanguinodorsalis  was  seen  in  the 
Maroua  area  (NB). 

Canary  Islands 

The  Purple  Swamphen  Porphyrio 
porphyrio  picked  up  exhausted  on 
Gran  Canaria  on  2 October  2009 
and  ringed  and  released  on  25 
October  {Bull.  ABC  17:  1 17)  was 
photographed  on  Lanzarote  on 
31  December  (per  Dutch  Birding 
32:  56).  On  La  Palma,  a Long- 
billed Dowitcher  Limnodromus 
scolopaceus  stayed  near  Tazacorte 
on  9-16  January  {RB).  The  third 
Yellow-browed  Warbler  Phylloscopus 
inornatus  for  Lanzarote,  first  seen 
23  October,  was  still  present  at  Uga 
on  8 December  (per  Dutch  Birding 
32:  59).  A Pied  Crow  Corvus  alb  us 
on  Gran  Canaria  on  22  January 
may  involve  a ship-assisted  arrival 
present  since  2004.  The  first  Black- 
and-white  Warbler  Mniotilta  varia 
for  the  Canaries  was  photographed 
at  Oasis  Park,  Fuerteventura,  on  18 
December  (per  Dutch  Birding  32: 
142). 

Cape  Verde  Islands 

A male  and  eight  first-winter  / 
female  Ring-necked  Ducks  Aythya 
collaris  were  at  Barragem  de  Poilao, 
Santiago,  from  25  February  until  at 
least  5 March  (per  Birding  World  23: 
104). 

Central  African  Republic 

A Latham’s  Forest  Francolin 

Francolinus  lathami  was  seen  near 
gallery  forest  in  an  area  known  as 


Figure  3.  Djibouti  Francolin 
/ Francolin  somali  Francolinus 
ochropectus , Foret  du  Day,  Djibouti, 
February  2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


Zamza  (08°02’52”N  21°23’38”E), 
in  the  north,  on  30  March  2010; 
this  is  well  north  of  the  species’ 
known  range  as  indicated  in  Borrow 
& Demey  (2004.  Field  Guide  to  the 
Birds  of  Western  Africa)  ( AP ). 

Djibouti 

Five  Djibouti  Francolins  Francolinus 
ochropectus — a Critically  Endangered 
Djibouti  endemic — were  seen  on 
the  escarpment  at  Foret  du  Day  on 
20  February  2010  (Fig.  3).  Somali 
Starling  Onychognathus  blythii  was 
common  there.  About  60  Arabian 
Golden  Sparrows  Passer  euchlorus, 
including  many  males  in  full 
breeding  plumage  (Fig.  4),  were  ar 
the  railway  embankment  in  Djibouti 
City  on  7th  and  another  30+  north 
of  the  town  on  20th  {FIB). 

Egypt 

In  February-May  2010  the  following 
were  reported.  A total  of  seven 
Striated  Herons  Butorides  striata 
was  seen  at  six  sites  on  1-15  April. 

An  adult  male  Crested  Honey 
Buzzard  Pernis  ptilorhyncus  flew 
north  over  Hurghada  sewage  plant 
on  4 April.  In  early  April,  at  least 
20  Lappet-faced  Vultures  Torgos 
tracheliotus  were  counted  at  Bir 
Shalatein.  At  least  four  (possibly  five) 
Three-handed  Plovers  Charadrius 
tricollaris,  including  a pair  with  a full- 
grown  young,  were  present  at  the  fish 
ponds  south  of  Aswan  on  1 May.  A 
Short-eared  Owl  Asio  flammeus  was 
observed  at  Wadi  Lahami  on  7 April. 
On  3 March,  a Black  Scrub  Robin 


Figure  4.  Arabian  Golden  Sparrow 
/ Moineau  d’Arabie  Passer  euchlorus , 
Djibouti  City,  February  2010 
(Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  5.  Grey  Hypocolius  / 
Hypocolius  gris  Hypocolius  ampelinus, 
Nabq  National  Park,  Egypt,  1 1 
February  (Matteo  Gagliardone  / Skua 
Nature) 

Cercotrichas  podobe  was  seen  at  Wadi 
Gimal.  The  first  Pied  Crow  Corvus 
albus  for  Egypt  was  photographed 
at  El  Gouna  on  1 1 April  (per  Dutch 
Birding  32:  142  & 203-211). 

A Grey  Hypocolius  Hypocolius 
ampelinus  was  digiscoped  in  Nabq 
National  Park  on  1 1 February  (Fig. 
5;  NS,  MG  & MB i). 

Ethiopia 

A Eurasian  Bittern  Botaurus  stellaris 
was  photographed  at  Lake  Awassa 
on  6 January  2010  (Fig.  6);  this  is 
possibly  the  third  confirmed  record 
for  Ethiopia  {cf.  Ash  & Atkins  2009. 
Birds  of  Ethiopia  and  Eritrea)  {DFo). 
Five  Ferruginous  Ducks  Aythya 
nyroca  were  on  Lake  Bishoftu  on  1 
February  and  two  Pacific  Golden 
Plovers  Pluvialis  fulva  at  Lake 


Figure  6.  Eurasian  Bittern  / Butor 
etoile  Botaurus  stellaris , Lake  Awassa, 
Ethiopia,  6 January  2010  (Dick 
Forsman) 


242  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


Figure  7.  Lesser  Crested  Tern  / Sterne 
voyageuse  Sterna  bengalensis , Lake 
Awassa,  Ethiopia,  7 January  2010 
(Dick  Forsman) 

Abiata  on  1 1th  (RSu  &FG).  Two 
immature  Lesser  Crested  Terns 
Sterna  bengalensis , photographed  at 
Lake  Awassa  on  7 and  9 January 
(Fig.  7),  are  apparently  the  first  for 
the  country — there  are  no  records 
for  Ethiopia  listed  in  Ash  & Atkins 
(2009)  (DFo). 

The  Gambia 

I hree  Cape  Gulls  Larus  dominicanus 
vetula  were  on  the  beach  at  Tanji, 
Western  Division,  on  13  January 
2010;  there  have  been  regular 
sightings  in  recent  years.  Also  in 
January,  three  Adamawa  Turtle 
Doves  Streptopelia  hypopyrrha  were 
seen  at  Janjangbureh,  Central  River 
Division  (NB). 

Ghana 

In  February  2010,  a Spot-breasted 
Ibis  Bostrycbia  rara  was  seen  and 
heard  flying  over  the  canopy  walkway 
in  Kakum  National  Park  at  dusk  on 
25th.  An  American  Golden  Plover 
Pluvialis  dominica  was  photographed 
at  Cape  Coast  Lagoon  on  26th 
(Fig.  8)  and  a Pectoral  Sandpiper 
Calidris  melanotos  at  Sakumono 
Lagoon  two  days  later,  at  almost 
exactly  the  same  spot  where  one  was 
found  a year  previously  (CT). 

Records  from  April-May  2010 
include  the  following.  A Spot- 
breasted Ibis  was  flushed  from  the 
forest  floor  in  Ankasa  in  early  May. 

A juvenile  Ayres’s  Hawk  Eagle 
Hieraaetus  ayresii  was  seen  in  Kakum 
National  Park  on  4 May;  there 


Figure  8.  American  Golden  Plover  / 
Pluvier  bronze  Pluvialis  dominica , Cape 
Coast  Lagoon,  Ghana,  26  February 
2010  (Chris  Townend) 

appear  to  be  few  documented  records 
lor  the  park.  At  Ankasa,  a Sandy 
Scops  Owl  Otus  icterorhynchus  was 
heard  at  dusk  on  26  April.  Six  Black 
Spinetails  Felacanthura  melanopygia 
flying  over  the  White-necked 
Picathartes  Picathartes  gymnocephalus 
site  at  Bonkro  had  been  presumably 
forced  down  by  the  impending 
storm.  A Yellow-footed  Honeyguide 
Melignomon  eisentrauti  was  observed 
at  Atewa,  whilst  an  African  Piculet 
Sasia  africana  was  found  in  Bobiri 
Forest  in  May. 

A pair  ol  Nimba  Flycatchers 

Melaenornis  annamarulae  was 
observed  high  up  in  a large  tree  at 
Atewa  in  May;  this  Upper  Guinea 
forest  endemic  has  only  recently 
been  discovered  in  Ghana  (see 
Bull.  ABC  15:  95-96).  Tessmann’s 
Flycatchers  Muscicapa  tessmanni 
were  seen  in  Kakum  National  Park 
(one  singing)  and  at  Aboabo  (a  pair 
feeding  two  recently  fledged  young); 
a photograph  of  these  birds  appears 
to  be  the  first  of  the  juveniles  of 
this  little-known  species  (Fig.  9).  A 
Lagden’s  Bushshrike  Malaconotus 
lagdeni  in  Bobiri  Forest  on  29  April 
(Fig.  10)  was  making  a previously 
undescribed  call  almost  identical  to 
that  of  Fiery-breasted  Bushshrike  M. 
cruentus ; the  first-named  species  is 
very  rare  in  Ghana.  In  May,  Red- 
fronted  Antpeckers  Parmoptila 
rubrifrons  were  observed  at  Abrafo  (a 
pair),  Ankasa  (a  pair)  and  Aboabo  (a 
family  group)  (NB). 


Figure  9.  Tessmann’s  Flycatcher 
Muscicapa  tessmanni  with  young, 
Aboabo,  Ghana,  28  April  2010  (Nik 
Borrow) 

Gobemouche  de  Tessmann  Muscicapa 
tessmanni  avec  jeunes,  Aboabo,  Ghana, 
28  avril  2010  (Nik  Borrow) 


Figure  10.  Lagden’s  Bushshrike  / 
Gladiateur  de  Lagden  Malaconotus 
lagdeni , Bobiri  Forest,  Ghana,  29  April 
2010  (Nik  Borrow) 

Guinea 

In  January-February  2010,  a search 
lor  Nimba  Flycatcher  Melaenornis 
annamarulae  in  south-eastern  Guinea 
found  a total  of  15  pairs  at  four  of 
the  seven  surveyed  sites.  The  species 
was  encountered  at  Douama,  sous- 
prefecture  de  Binikala  (four  pairs), 
sous-prefecture  Sengbedou-Macenta 
(three  pairs),  Tetini  Forest  Reserve 
(four  pairs)  and  Mount  Bero  Forest 
Reserve  (four  pairs).  It  was  not  found 
in  Diecke  Forest  Reserve,  nor  in 
the  sous-prefecture  de  Bounouma 
or  at  Mount  Yonon.  In  Guinea,  the 
species  was  previously  known  only 
from  Ziama,  Dere  and  Pic  de  Fon 
(MBC&KS). 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 243 


Kenya 

The  following  reports  are  from 
January-June  2010,  with  additional 
records  from  October-December 
2009  not  mentioned  in  previous 
Recent  Reports.  A Madagascar 
Pond  Heron  Ardeola  idae  at  Sabaki 
on  1 1 February  is  an  unusual  record 
for  the  season.  More  than  5,000 
White  Storks  Ciconia  ciconia  were 
at  Nakuru  National  Park  (=NP) 
on  20-21  February.  A total  of  94 
Eurasian  Honey  Buzzards  Pernis 
apivorus  on  Mount  Elgon  on  7 
March  is  an  unusually  high  count.  A 
first-year  Egyptian  Vulture  Neophron 
percnopterus  was  on  the  Magadi 
road,  c. 20  km  before  the  lake,  in  late 
January;  all  records  of  this  species  are 
worth  reporting  given  its  significant 
decline.  An  immature  Black-chested 
Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  pectoralis 
near  Kapcherop,  Cherangani,  on 
24  December,  and  an  Eastern 
Chanting  Goshawk  Melierax 
poliopterus  in  Nairobi  NP  on  27 
December  are  unusual  records  for 
those  areas.  A flock  of  23  Levant’s 
Sparrowhawks  Accipiter  brevipes 
was  at  the  Ahero  rice  scheme  on 
24  January  and  an  adult  male  near 
Mtito  Andei  on  30  January;  this  is 
an  unprecedented  number  of  this 
Accipiter  for  which  there  are  only 
c.G  previous  records  in  Kenya.  A 
Long-legged  Buzzard  Buteo  rufinus 
at  Nakuru  NP  in  January  was  still 
present  on  21  February.  Unusual 
records  for  February  include  a female 
Amur  Falcon  Falco  amurensis  at 
Solio  Ranch,  Laikipia,  on  18th  and 
an  Eleonora’s  Falcon  F.  eleonorae 
at  Tsavo  East  NP  on  13th.  A Grey 
Kestrel  F.  ardosiaceus  at  Nakuru  NP 
on  28  February  is  a rather  easterly 
record. 

A Red-chested  Flufftail 

Sarothrura  rufa  was  reported  from 
Kiboko  Bay,  Lake  Victoria,  on  3 
May.  A Corncrake  Crex  crex  was 
ringed  at  the  Botanic  Gardens, 
National  Museums  of  Kenya, 

Nairobi;  this  is  a rare  bird  away 
from  the  Mara  and  very  few  have 
been  ringed  in  Kenya.  A Buff- 
crested  Bustard  Eupodotis  gindiana 
was  unusually  close  to  the  sea  near 
the  salt  pans  at  Kurawa,  north  of 
Malindi,  on  24  April.  Four  Eurasian 


Oystercatchers  Himantopus  ostralegus 
stayed  at  Mida  Creek,  Watamu, 
through  much  of  February-April. 
Unprecedented  numbers  of  Caspian 
Plovers  Charadrius  asiaticus  were 
recorded:  c.70  west  of  Siana  Springs 
in  late  January  and  2,347  together 
on  the  Tana  River  Delta  on  15 
February;  very  few  were  seen  in  the 
usual  wintering  grounds  of  the  Masai 
Mara.  In  March,  a Temminck’s 
Stint  Calidris  temminckii  was  seen 
and  a Red-necked  Phalarope 
Phalaropus  lobatus  ringed  at  Lake 
Nakuru.  Over  1,500  Brown 
Noddies  Anous  stolidus  were  around 
Whale  Island,  Watamu,  on  16  May; 
although  likely  to  breed  at  the  site, 
there  is  no  evidence  yet.  A huge  tern 
roost,  discovered  a few  years  ago  at 
Sabaki  River  mouth,  contained  an 
estimated  500,000  birds  in  February. 
Two  Common  Black-headed  Gulls 
Larus  ridibundus  were  on  a dam  near 
Molo  on  2 May;  there  are  few  reports 
away  from  the  Rift  Valley  lakes. 

A Yellowbill  Ceuthmochares 
aereus  was  seen  at  Langata,  Nairobi, 
on  19  November — this  is  a rare 
species  around  Nairobi.  Single 
Black  Coucals  Centropus  grillii  were 
reported  from  Aruba  Dam,  Tsavo 
East  NP,  on  13  February  and  near 
Witu  Forest,  Tana  River  Delta, 
on  26  April.  A Bohm’s  Spinetail 
Neafrapus  boehmi  at  Witu  Forest, 
Tana  River  Delta,  on  26  April  is 
an  interesting  record,  as  Arabuko- 
Sokoke  is  generally  considered  to 
be  its  northernmost  limit.  Several 
thousand  Common  Swifts  Apus 
apus  were  at  Sagala,  Voi,  on  23 
January — such  large  numbers 
are  unexpected  at  this  season.  A 
White-headed  Mousebird  Colius 
leucocephalus  at  Sagala,  Voi,  on  24 
January  was  outside  its  normal  range. 
Eight  White-throated  Bee-eaters 
Merops  albicollis  at  Naibor  Camp, 
Masai  Mara,  on  8 June  is  an  unusual 
date,  whilst  >100  Blue-cheeked 
Bee-eaters  M.  persicus  near  Witu, 
Tana  River  Delta,  on  26  April  is 
a late  date.  About  20  Madagascar 
Bee-eaters  M.  superciliosus  were  at 
Sagala,  Voi,  on  23  January.  At  least 
1 ,000  European  Rollers  Coracias 
garrulus  near  Voi  on  24  January 
were  still  present  on  13  February. 


An  Usambiro  Barbet  Trachyphonus 
darnaudii  usambiro  west  of  the 
Ngong  Hills,  Rift  Valley,  on  14 
March  is  the  easternmost  report  for 
this  taxon  so  far,  whilst  one  in  well- 
watched  Nairobi  NP  on  31  March 
was  new  for  the  park.  A Tullberg’s 
Woodpecker  Campethera  tullbergi 
in  Kakamega  Forest  on  7 May  is  an 
unusual  record  for  this  site. 

An  immature  Red-winged  Lark 
Mirafra  hypermetra  on  a grassy  area 
bordering  the  beach  at  Watamu 
on  23  May  was  definitely  out  of 
place:  larks  are  very  rare  on  the 
coast,  let  alone  on  the  beach  front. 

A pair  of  Rufous-chested  Swallows 
Cecropis  semirufa  was  nesting  in  a 
warthog  hole  in  the  Masai  Mara, 
in  March;  there  are  relatively  few 
breeding  records  for  this  species. 

In  late  January,  two  Bush  Pipits 
Anthus  caffer  were  observed  at  Siana 
Springs.  Three  Little  Greenbuls 
Andropadus  virens  south  of  Kilifi 
on  1 February  are  the  first  records 
north  of  Mombasa  for  many  years. 
Records  from  Nairobi  NP  include  a 
small  flock  of  Grey-olive  Greenbuls 
Phyllastrephus  cerviniventris  on  25 
November  (only  the  third  record 
for  the  park),  a Bare-eyed  Thrush 
Turdus  tephronotus  on  27  March 
(first  record  for  Nairobi  district)  and 
a Basra  Reed  Warbler  Acrocephalus 
griseldis  on  29  November  (second 
record  for  the  park).  Barred 
Warblers  Sylvia  nisoria  were  reported 
as  extremely  abundant — ‘the  most 
abundant  migrant  after  European 
Rollers,  outnumbering  Common 
Whitethroats  S.  communis  1 5 to 
T — at  Sagala,  Voi,  on  24  January. 

An  Olive-tree  Warbler  Hippolais 
olivetorum  at  Tsavo  East  NP  on  13 
February  was  probably  overwintering, 
which  is  very  unusual  in  Kenya; 
one  in  Nairobi  on  13  March  is  an 
unusual  record  for  this  site.  DNA 
analysis  of  an  unusual  Acrocephalus 
ringed  at  Ngulia,  Tsavo  West  NP, 
in  December,  proved  the  bird  was  a 
hybrid  Marsh  A.  palustris  x Blyth’s 
Reed  Warbler  A.  dumetorum.  A 
pair  of  Yellow-vented  Eremomelas 
Eremomela  icteropygialis  just  outside 
Sala  Gate,  Tsavo  East  NP,  on  12 
February,  is  a very  southerly  record. 


244 -Bull  ABC  Voi  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


A group  of  Hinde’s  Babblers 

Turdoides  hindei  was  discovered 
in  a valley  34  km  south-east  of 
Machakos  on  23  January;  this  is  a 
new  site  for  this  Kenyan  endemic. 
Boubous  photographed  and  tape- 
recorded  on  Manda  Island,  Lamu, 
in  April  appear  to  be  black-morph 
Erlanger’s  Boubous  Laniarius 
erlangeri ; if  accepted  it  will  be  a new 
species  for  Kenya  (for  a video  grab 
see  http://naturekenyalOOO.ning. 
com) — hitherto  it  was  considered 
to  be  a southern  Somalia  endemic. 
Three  House  Crows  Corvus  splendens 
at  Maungu,  Voi,  are  among  the 
furthest  inland  records  of  this 
invasive  species  and  an  indication 
ol  its  massive  increase  since  the 
control  programme  ceased  in  late 
2004.  A Fischer’s  Starling  Spreo 
fischeri  at  Ol  Kejo  bridge,  Magadi 
Road  near  Olorgesailie,  on  31 
March  is  one  of  the  few  (the  first?) 
records  for  the  Rift  Valley.  Groups 
of  Magpie  Starlings  Speculipastor 
bicolor  were  present  at  Sagala,  Voi, 
on  23  January — this  species  is 
recorded  this  far  south  only  every 
few  years;  two  on  Mpala  Ranch 
on  10  February  is  a very  westerly 
record.  A pair  ol  Sharpe’s  Starlings 
Cinnyricinclus  sharpii  was  feeding 
nestlings  in  South  Marmarnet  Forest, 
Nyahururu,  on  1 1 March.  An  adult 
male  Red-headed  Weaver  Anaplectes 
rubriceps  at  the  entrance  of  Nairobi 
NP  on  27  December  was  only  the 
second  record  for  the  park.  A small 
Rufous-tailed  Weaver  Histurgops 
ruficaudus  colony  of  seven  nests  with 
begging  young  and  one  recently 
fledged  juvenile  were  found  at  the 
Mara  River,  Masai  Mara,  on  14 
April;  this  species  was  only  recently 
added  to  the  Kenya  list  and  this 
is  the  first  reported  breeding.  In 
March,  the  second  record  of  Straw- 
tailed Whydah  Vidua  fischeri  in 
Nairobi  NP  was  made  when  a male 
was  observed.  A briefly  seen  Somali 
Golden-breasted  Bunting  Emberiza 
poliopleura  on  the  western  outskirts 
of  Nairobi  on  17  October  is  a new 
species  for  the  city  [C]). 

Libya 

Two  nests  of  Little  Bitterns 

Ixobrychus  minutus , one  with  four 


eggs  and  the  other  with  egg  shell 
fragments,  were  found  near  Lake 
Bu  Tesira,  Benghazi,  on  30  April 
and  1 May  2010;  this  is  a new 
breeding  species  for  Libya.  Collared 
Pratincole  Glareola  pratincola  was 
also  discovered  to  be  a local  breeder: 
at  least  eight  pairs  and  a nest  with 
one  egg  were  found  at  A1  Marj, 
Cyrenaica,  on  10  May.  Zitting 
Cisticola  Cisticola  juncidis  was  found 
to  be  a common  breeder  at  Taurgha, 
Tripolitania,  on  27-28  April.  A flock 
of  15  Tree  Sparrows  Passer  montanus 
was  observed  at  A1  Khums  on  26 
April  and  up  to  12  Red  Avadavats 
Amandava  amandava  near  Lake  Bu 
Tesira  on  30  April-6  May;  these 
species  probably  also  breed  in  the 
country  (JH  & EF;  per  Birding  World 
23:  198). 

Madeira 

Noteworthy  records  from  February- 
May  2010  include  the  following.  A 
peculiar  Zino’s  Petrel  Pterodroma 
madeira  with  largely  white  wings 
and  very  pale  upperparts  and  head 
(possibly  a morph  of  another  species) 
was  observed  for  the  third  time  in 
Madeiran  waters  on  1 3 May  and 
filmed  (see  www.madeirawindbirds. 
com).  On  8 May,  a Black-capped 
Petrel  P.  hasitata  was  reported 
twice  from  a cruise  ship  north-east 
of  Madeira.  A Ring-necked  Duck 
Aythya  collaris  was  at  Porto  Santo  on 
28  February  and  a Purple  Sandpiper 
Calidris  maritima  at  Canigal 
harbour  on  30  April.  A Hudsonian 
Whimbrel  Numenius  phaeopus 
hudsonicus  was  present  at  Sao  Vicente 
on  22  February.  The  second  Red 
Phalarope  Phalaropus  fulicarius  for 
the  archipelago  was  seen  north  of 
Madeira  on  15  May  (per  Birding 
World  23:  60,  104  & 198;  Dutch 
Birding  32:  138  & 203). 

Morocco 

Records  from  November  2009-May 
2010  are  as  follows.  At  Tetouan, 
the  first  Leach’s  Storm-petrel 
Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  for  the 
country’s  Mediterranean  coast  was 
found  exhausted  on  9 January  (per 
Birding  World  23:  13).  A male  Lesser 
Scaup  Aythya  affiwis  was  discovered 
at  Oued  Massa  on  1 1 February  ( MB 


& DPI).  At  least  one  White-headed 
Duck  Oxyura  leucocephala  remained 
at  Sidi  Bou  Rhaba,  Kenitra,  during 
April.  At  Merzouga,  Tafilalt,  1-2 
Eurasian  Bitterns  Botaurus  stellaris 
were  singing  at  Dayet  Srij  on  9 April; 
this  is  the  south-easternmost  record 
for  Morocco,  where  the  species  is 
less  than  annual  in  coastal  marshes 
in  the  north.  The  long-staying 
Western  Reef  Egret  Egretta  gularis 
at  Essaouira,  first  found  on  19 
April  2009,  was  still  present  on  27 
February.  An  adult  Lesser  Flamingo 
Phoeniconaias  minor  was  foraging 
among  a flock  of  c.100  Greater 
Flamingos  Phoenicopterus  [ruber) 
roseus  north  of  Oualidia,  68  km 
south  of  El  Jadida,  on  1-5  May  (per 
Dutch  Birding  32:  135  &1 99-203). 

A Tawny  Eagle  Aquila  rapax  was 
seen  at  Merzouga  on  6 February  [MB 
&DH). 

Several  Baillon’s  Crakes  Porzana 
pusilla  were  found  in  flooded  fields 
at  Oued  Massa  in  the  second  week 
of  April;  there  are  only  two  previous 
records  for  Morocco  in  the  past  15 
years.  At  Khnifiss  lagoon,  Tarfaya, 
in  the  south-west,  up  to  nine  Cape 
Gulls  Larus  dominicanus  vetula 
stayed  from  1 8 November  to  at 
least  April;  at  least  eight  with  one 
active  nest  were  counted  on  14-29 
April.  At  Oued  Souss,  Agadir,  c.450 
km  further  north,  an  adult  was 
photographed  on  12  April  and  two 
Laughing  Gulls  L.  atricilla  were 
there  on  19  April.  A Grey-hooded 
Gull  Larus  cirrocephalus  was  noted 
at  Dakhla,  Western  Sahara,  on  a few 
dates  between  January  and  April. 

In  the  south-east,  the  first  Dunn’s 
Larks  Eremalauda  dunni  for  the 
Tafilalt  were  observed  from  1 1 
April  near  Merzouga;  on  3 May, 
eight  birds  and  a nest  were  found  at 
three  sites  (the  first  records  for  the 
country  were  from  Oued  Ad-Deheb, 
Western  Sahara,  in  2006).  A 
Dupont’s  Lark  Chersophilus  duponti 
was  singing  at  Tizi-n-Taghatine, 
west  of  Tazenakht,  on  7 and  11 
April.  Eastern  Olivaceous  Warblers 
Hippolais  pallida  of  the  North 
African  race  reiseri  were  found  again 
in  increasing  numbers  in  suitable 
habitat  in  the  south.  A total  of  25 
Cricket  Warblers  Spiloptila  clamans 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Voi  17  No  2 (2010) -245 


was  counted  west  of  Aousserd, 
Western  Sahara,  on  12  December; 

55  were  found  on  24  January,  and 
a male  was  seen  feeding  nestlings 
on  13  February.  A Woodchat 
Shrike  Lanius  senator  of  the  race 
badius , the  fourth  for  Morocco, 
was  photographed  41  km  west 
of  El  Kelaa  on  27  March.  Three 
Pied  Crows  Corvns  albus  c.  160  km 
north-east  of  Dakhla,  first  seen  on 
13  December,  were  breeding  on  a 
pylon  on  25  April;  these  constitute 
the  first  for  Morocco.  It  appears  that 
2—3  birds  have  been  present  here  for 
three  years,  but  there  are  no  previous 
proven  breeding  records  (per  Dutch 
Birding  32:  56-65,  138  & 205-211). 

Mozambique 

A White-tailed  Tropicbird 

Phaethon  lepturus  was  reported  c.26 
nautical  miles  off  Ponto  d’Oura  in 
early  May  2010.  On  15  March  at 
Catapu,  a worm-infested  Cordyla 
tree  in  the  forest  held  no  fewer 
than  nine  cuckoo  species  including 
a Madagascar  Cuckoo  Cuculus 
rochii  and  two  Lesser  Cuckoos  C. 
poliocephalus  (per  TH). 

Namibia 

Records  from  January-June  2010 
include  the  following.  An  African 
Openbill  Anastomus  lamelligerus 
stayed  at  Windhoek  from  8 March  to 
at  least  1 1 April.  Also  at  Windhoek, 
an  Osprey  Pandion  haliaetus  was  at 
Avis  Dam  on  9 May.  A Bat  Hawk 
Machieramphus  alcinus  reported 
from  Kakuse  Farm,  c.70  km  north- 
west of  Tsumeb,  in  early  April  was 
notable.  A young  Palm-nut  Vulture 
Gypohierax  angolensis  was  found 
dead  at  Walvis  Bay  on  22  June. 


Three  Three-handed  Coursers 

Rhinoptilus  cinctus,  including  a chick, 
were  ringed  on  Kakuse  Farm  on  1 5 
May;  there  are  very  few  records  from 
north-central  Namibia  and,  although 
the  species  is  sporadically  reported 
from  the  Caprivi,  the  nearest 
reasonably  sized  population  probably 
is  in  western  Zimbabwe.  Two 
Common  Redshanks  Tringa  totanus 
remained  at  Mile  4 Salt  Works  near 
Swakopmund  throughout  the  period 
and  apparently  were  going  to  spend 
the  southern  winter  there;  one  was 
also  observed  at  Walvis  Bay  on  28 
February.  Red-necked  Phalaropes 
Phalaropus  lobatus  were  seen  in 
Walvis  Bay  from  February  to  May, 
with  at  least  three  individuals  on  28 
February  and  up  to  13  on  9 May.  A 
Red  Phalarope  P.  fidicarius  was  at 
Mile  4 Salt  Works  near  Swakopmund 
on  8 April.  A Franklin’s  Gull  Lams 
pipixcan  and  a Common  Black- 
headed Gull  L.  ridibundus  were  still 
present  at  Walvis  Bay  at  the  end  of 
February  (per  TH). 

Niger 

The  highlight  of  early  2010  was 
the  presence  of  ‘Dorottya’,  a 
satellite-tracked  Saker  Falcon  Falco 
cherrug,  which  mostly  remained 
r.50  km  north  ofZinder  (http:// 
www.sakerlife.mme.hu/en/gmap). 

The  falcon  was  seen  twice  during 
a research  project  into  its  ecology 
in  February  {HI).  The  sighting  of 
another  Saker  Falcon  in  Nguigmi,  on 
13  November  2009  {SW),  has  been 
accepted.  Arguably  as  stunning  was 
the  appearance  of  photographs  of  an 
adult  Greater  Kestrel  F.  rupicoloides, 
probably  of  the  subspecies  fieldi, 
taken  at  Termit,  in  the  south-east, 


during  a Sahara  Conservation  Fund 
expedition  in  February  2009  ( 77? 
per  TW).  The  nearest  known  records 
of  this  species  are  from  Sudan  on 
the  border  with  Ethiopia,  2,500  km 
away. 

Additional  reports  from  December 
2009-June  2010  include  the 
following.  Quite  far  north  are  records 
of  breeding  Bateleur  Theratopius 
ecaudatus  (fledgling  at  nest  with 
adults)  and  of  a single  Savile’s 
Bustard  Lophotis  savilei,  both  at 
Gadabeji  in  March  {TW).  A Spotted 
Sandgrouse  Pterocles  senegallus  with 
three  young  was  seen  at  Gadafaoua, 
south-east  of  Agadez,  in  June  {TW). 
Also  noteworthy  is  the  finding  of 
a nest  with  two  eggs  of  Golden 
Nightjar  Caprimulgus  eximius , on  1 
June  at  Taguedoufat,  100  km  south- 
east of  Agadez  (Figs.  1 1—13;  TW). 

The  recently  opened  Niger  Bird 
DataBase  website,  www.bromus.net/ 
nibdab/,  is  already  paying  dividends. 
Singing  Dunn’s  Larks  Eremalauda 
dunni  were  reported  east  of  Termit 
on  15  December  {TW).  Eurasian 
Golden  Orioles  Oriolus  oriolus 
passed  through  Maine-Soroa  during 
the  second  half  of  April  and  Masked 
Shrikes  Lanius  nubicus  were  quite 
frequent  there  in  February  {DK). 
House  Sparrows  Passer  domesticus 
appear  to  be  well  established  and 
spreading  in  south-east  Niger.  The 
country’s  first  record  was  from  Djado 
in  the  far  north-east  in  1970;  the 
second  concerned  a single  male  in 
Nguigmi,  north-east  of  Lake  Chad, 
on  21  August  2003.  Although  a 
search  for  this  species  at  the  latter 
site  in  2005  was  unsuccessful  {cf. 
Malimbus  30:  47),  a single  was 
seen  there  on  22  April  2006  {AM). 


Figures  11-13.  Golden  Nightjar  Caprimulgus  eximius  with  eggs,  Taguedoufat,  Niger,  early  June  2010  (Tim  Wacher) 
Engoulevant  dore  Caprimulgus  eximius  et  ses  oeufs,  Taguedoufat,  Niger,  debut  juin  2010  (Tim  Wacher) 


246  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


Four  years  later,  on  20  April  2010, 
‘lots’  were  coining  every  day  to  a 
waterbowl  in  the  same  town  (SWJ, 
and  a pair  was  reported  from  a petrol 
station  in  Maine-Soroa,  100  km  west 
of  Lake  Chad,  on  the  border  with 
Nigeria,  in  February  (DK)  (all  per 
JB). 

Rwanda 

A pair  of  Green-backed  Eremomelas 

Eremomela  canescens  found  in  open 
woodland  in  Akagera  National  Park 
on  8 April  2010  appears  to  be  the 
first  lor  Rwanda.  The  grey  crown 
and  nape,  blackish  mask,  contrasting 
green  upperparts,  white  throat  and 
upper  breast,  and  yellow  lower  breast 
and  belly  were  clearly  seen  (JA ). 

Senegal 

Records  from  January-March  2010 
include  the  following.  A Eurasian 
Bittern  Botaurus  stellaris  was 
observed  in  Djoudj  National  Park 
on  21  January;  there  are  very  few 
records  for  the  park.  Sightings  of 
pale  Grey  Herons  Ardea  cinerea  at 
Langue  de  Barbarie  on  18  January 
and  in  the  Djoudj  on  20th  were 
probably  of  the  race  monicae,  which 
has  been  recorded  as  a vagrant  from 
Mauritania.  An  Allen’s  Gallinule 
Porphyrio  alleni  and  two  Short-eared 
Owls  As io  flammeus  were  seen  in 
the  Djoudj,  on  22  January  (NB). 

Also  there,  a Common  Crane  Grus 
grus  was  photographed  with  Black- 
crowned  Cranes  Balearica  pavonina 
on  22  and  25  March;  this  appears  to 
be  the  first  country  record  (per  Dutch 
Birding  32:  205).  A flock  of  c.8 
Fulvous  Babblers  Turdoides  fulvus 
was  seen  near  Richard-Toll  (NB). 

In  April,  at  least  two  Narina’s 
Trogons  Apaloderma  narina  were 
photographed  on  several  dates  in 
semi-decidious  and  gallery  forest  at 
Dindefelo,  in  the  extreme  south-east, 
near  the  border  with  Guinea- 
Conakry;  this  is  a new  species  for  the 
country — full  details  will  appear  in 
the  next  Bull.  ABC  ( NA , LP  & IZ). 

Seychelles 

The  following  records  are  mainly 
from  the  period  October  2009— May 
2010,  with  a few  from  earlier 
dates.  Never  have  so  many  reports 


ol  rarities  been  received  since  the 
Seychelles  Bird  Records  Committee 
(SBRC)  was  formed  in  1992. 
Accepted  firsts  are  Bulwer’s  Petrel 
Bulweria  fallax  (one  at  Cousin  Island 
on  15  June  2009),  Alpine  Swift 
Tachymarptis  melba  (one  on  Bird 
Island  on  20—21  November),  Desert 
Wheatear  Oenanthe  deserti  (a  first- 
winter  male  on  Bird  Island  on  16-19 
November)  and  Common  Stonechat 
Saxicola  torquatus  (one  on  Denis  on 
27  December).  This  takes  the  total 
number  of  species  on  the  Seychelles 
list  to  254.  First  reports  of  Herald 
Petrel  Pterodroma  heraldica  on 
Cousin  on  10-11  June  2009  and  of 
European  Pied  Flycatcher  Ficedula 
hypoleuca  on  Bird  Island  are  currently 
being  examined. 

Second  reports  for  Seychelles, 
all  from  Bird  Island,  include  a 
first-winter  female  Pied  Wheatear 
Oenanthe  pleschanka  on  1 3-20 
November  and  a male  Blackcap 
Sylvia  atricapilla  on  16  November. 

A record  of  a snipe  on  12  November 
was  accepted  as  either  Pintail  Snipe 
Gallinago  stenura  or  Swinhoe’s 
Snipe  G.  megala ; this  is  the  second 
such  record,  whilst  there  is  only 
one  confirmed  record  of  Pintail 
Snipe.  A first-winter  bunting  on  21 
November  was  accepted  as  either 
Ortolan  Bunting  Emberiza  hortulana 
or  Cretzchmar’s  Bunting  E.  caesia ; 
there  is  only  one  accepted  record  of 
Ortolan  and  none  of  Cretzchmar’s. 

Third  reports  include  a Reed 
Cormorant  Phalacrocorax  africanus 
on  Grand  Terre,  Aldabra,  on  16 
February,  a Stone-curlew  Burhinus 
oedicnemus  on  Alphonse  on  7—9 
December,  a Great  Knot  Calidris 
tenuirostris  on  Desroches  on  3-5 
March,  and  an  Icterine  Warbler 
Elippolais  icterina  on  Bird  Island 
on  12  November.  Single  Wood 
Warblers  Phylloscopus  sibilatrix  on 
Bird  Island  on  17  and  27  November 
were  the  third  and  fourth  records. 

Fourth  records  were  a Squacco 
Heron  Ardeola  ralloides  on  Praslin 
on  12  January,  a Greater  Short-toed 
Lark  Calandrella  brachydactyla  on 
Bird  Island  on  16-23  November, 
with  two  present  on  the  final  date, 
and  a female  / immature  Rufous- 
tailed Rock  Thrush  Monticola 


saxatilis  on  Bird  Island  on  14 
November. 

The  sixth  Wilson’s  Storm- 

petrel  Oceanites  oceanicus  for 
the  archipelago  was  observed  off 
D’Arros  on  3 July  2009.  A belated 
report  of  an  Indian  Pond  Heron 
Ardeola  gray ii  on  Denis  on  10 
December  2007  was  the  fifth  for 
Seychelles;  singles  were  also  recorded 
on  Alphonse  on  30  October-5 
November,  and  on  Desroches.  A 
Glossy  Ibis  Plegadis  falcinellus  on 
Fregate  on  8-1 1 November  and 
another  on  Bird  Island  on  10-17 
November  constituted  the  fifth 
and  sixth  records.  A Lesser  Kestrel 
Falco  naumanni  was  on  Desroches 
on  8 March  (sixth  record).  Single 
Common  Pratincoles  Glareola 
pratincola  were  on  North  Island  on 
25  September  (earliest  post-breeding 
arrival  date),  Alphonse  on  5-14 
November  and  Bird  Island  on  1 1 
November  (nine  previous  records). 
Reports  ol  Black-winged  Pratincole 
G.  nordmanni  included  four  adults 
on  Alphonse  on  4-16  May  2009, 
one  on  Fregate  on  12  June  2009,  one 
on  Bird  Island  on  1 1-28  November, 
two  on  Fregate  on  14  November  and 
one  on  Desroches  on  1 March;  there 
are  six  previously  accepted  records. 

A Pectoral  Sandpiper  Calidris 
melanotos  was  on  Alphonse  on  8-16 
May  (fifth  record).  A belated  report 
of  a Whiskered  Tern  Chlidonias 
hybridus  at  Victoria,  Mahe,  on  1 1 
October  2006  was  the  fifth  for 
Seychelles.  Two  Little  Swifts  Apus 
ajfinis  were  seen  on  Cousine  on  20 
January  (fifth  record).  A Common 
House  Martin  Delichon  urbicum 
on  Alphonse  on  4-5  October  and  a 
Grey  Wagtail  Motacilla  cinerea  on 
North  Island  on  18-19  November 
were  the  ninth  records  for  both 
species. 

A ring  found  at  the  Alphonse 
airstrip  on  12  December  2009 
had  been  applied  to  a first-year 
Eleonora’s  Falcon  Falco  eleonorae 
at  Las  Islas  Columbretes,  Spain,  on 
17  September  2008.  It  is  assumed 
that  the  bird  died  on  Alphonse  and 
the  ring  became  detached;  there 
have  been  28  previous  records  of 
this  species.  Eurasian  Hobbies  F. 
subbuteo  were  reported  from  D’Arros 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -247 


on  21  November,  Bird  Island  on 

15- 21  November  (two),  F regate  on 

17  November,  Poivre  on  7 December 
and  Desroches  on  3-4  January; 

all  were  immatures  (21  previous 
records).  Common  Cuckoos  Cuculus 
canorus  were  observed  on  Alphonse 
on  15-22  January  2009,  Desroches 
on  23  October-26  November,  Roche 
Caiman,  Mahe,  on  18  November, 
North  Island  on  16  November- 1 
December,  Bird  Island  on  16-26 
November  (with  two  present  on 
19-20  November),  Cousine  on  4 
December  and  25  December-2 
January,  Praslin  on  12  January  and 
Aride  on  14  January  (26  previous 
records).  Lesser  Cuckoos  C. 
poliocephalus  were  present  on  Bird 
Island  on  22  November,  at  Anse 
aux  Pins,  Mahe,  on  13  January-27 
February,  with  two  there  on  the 
final  date,  and  on  Cousine  on  10-13 
January  and  21  January-20  February 
(13  previous  records). 

For  the  third  time  in  living 
memory  and  for  the  second 
consecutive  season,  there  were  reports 
of  Blue-cheeked  Bee-eaters  Merops 
persicus  in  significant  numbers, 
including  20-25  on  Bird  Island 
on  8-25  November,  one  at  Roche 
Caiman  Bird  Sanctuary,  Mahe,  on 

18  November,  six  on  North  Island 
on  18-19  November,  two  on  Cousin 
on  19  November,  six  on  Conception 
on  23  November,  two  on  Aride  on 

16- 20  November,  one  on  Alphonse 
on  28  November,  at  least  one  on 
Denis  on  2-12  December,  four  on 
D’Arros  on  1 5 December,  and  one 
on  Silhouette  on  15—16  December. 
Apart  from  the  three  years  when 
invasions  took  place,  there  have  been 

17  accepted  records. 

Further  records  of  interest  include 
a Little  Egret  Egretta  garzetta  on 
Cousine  on  5 February-3  March 
(26th  record),  a Great  Egret  E. 
alba  at  Beau  Vallon  marsh,  Mahe, 
on  14  November  and  another  on 
Bird  Island  on  9-11  November  (14 
previous  records),  an  adult  Purple 
Heron  Ardea  purpurea  at  Roche 
Caiman  Bird  Sanctuary,  Mahe, 
from  about  18  October  to  at  least 

18  November,  with  an  immature 
on  Alphonse  on  22  October,  one 
on  Desroches  on  24  October- 17 


November  and  another  immature 
on  Bird  Island  on  1 1-21  November 
(37  previous  records),  a female  or 
immature  Northern  Shoveler  Anas 
clypeata  on  Aride  on  5 January  (tenth 
record),  an  immature  Northern 
Pintail  A.  acuta  on  Aride  on  20 
January  (1 1th  record),  a Ruff 
Philomachus  pugnax  on  Desroches 
on  16  November,  with  two  on 
Bird  Island  on  13-28  November 
(28  previous  records),  a Common 
Snipe  Gallinago  gallinago  on  Aride 
on  17  October,  two  on  Alphonse 
on  20  October-6  November  and 
two  on  Denis  on  30  December  (14 
previous  records),  a Black-tailed 
Godwit  Limosa  limosa  on  Aride 
on  24  December  (seventh  record), 
a Common  Black-headed  Gull 
Larus  ridibundus  on  Cousine  on 
20  January  (17th  record),  an  adult 
Gull-billed  Tern  Sterna  nilotica  off 
Bird  Island  on  18  November  (11th 
record),  a Common  Swift  Apus 
apus  on  Desroches  on  5 February 
(19th  record),  a Pacific  Swift  A. 
pacificus  on  Bird  Island  on  1 1—15 
November,  with  another  on  Denis 
on  26-27  December  (12th- 13th 
records),  a European  Roller 
Coracias  garrulus  on  Bird  Island  on 
10-27  November  and  18  March, 
with  others  on  Fregate  on  1 1—13 
November,  Praslin  on  16  November, 
Desroches  on  17-25  November 
and  7-17  February,  Alphonse  on 
25-28  November  (two)  and  14 
March,  and  Denis  on  2 December 
(34  previous  records),  an  adult 
Broad-billed  Roller  Eurystomus 
glaucurus  on  Alphonse  on  10-22 
November  ( 1 4th  record  east  of  the 
Aldabra  group),  a Common  Sand 
Martin  Riparia  riparia  on  Alphonse 
on  20-26  October,  with  another 
on  Bird  Island  on  9—1 1 November 
(18  previous  records),  a White 
Wagtail  Motacilla  alba  on  D’Arros 
on  7 November,  with  others  on 
Desroches  on  26  November  and  on 
Bird  Island  on  15-20  November 
(27  previous  records),  a first-winter 
Yellow  Wagtail  M.  flava  on  Aride 
on  20-25  November  (31st  record), 
an  adult  and  up  to  four  first-winter 
Red-throated  Pipits  Anthus  cervinus 
on  Bird  Island  on  1 1-25  November 
(17th  record),  a Common  Redstart 


Phoenicurus  phoenicurus  on  Bird 
Island  on  1 1 November  (1 1th 
record),  a Northern  Wheatear 
Oenanthe  oenanthe  on  Denis  on  3 
January  and  another  on  Aldabra  on 
14  January  (45  previous  records), 
and  a female  / immature  Eurasian 
Golden  Oriole  Oriolus  oriolus  on 
Bird  Island  on  1 1 November,  with 
another  on  Cousine  on  24  December 
(14  previous  records)  (AS). 

Sierra  Leone 

During  a visit  in  February  2010 
the  following  records  were  made. 

A flock  of  40  African  Openbills 
Anastomus  lamelligerus  was  found 
at  Bumbuna  on  17th;  there  appear 
to  be  no  previous  records  from  this 
area.  The  same  day,  a Beaudouin’s 
Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  beaudouini 
was  near  a bush  fire  north  of  Mile 
91;  this  is  slightly  south  of  the  range 
given  in  Borrow  & Demey  (2004. 
Field  Guide  to  the  Birds  of  Western 
Africa).  Cassin’s  Hawk  Eagles 
Spizaetus  africanus  were  observed  at 
Guma  Dam  on  6th  and  at  Tacugama 
on  19th;  although  the  species  has 
been  noted  there  in  recent  years, 
there  are  apparently  no  historical 
records  from  the  peninsula.  A Great 
Snipe  Gallinago  media  was  noted  in 
a swamp  in  Gola  East  and  another 
in  the  rice  fields  at  Kenema.  Two 
Brown  Nightjars  Veles  binotatus 
were  seen  at  Tiwai  on  10th;  this 
species  was  only  recently  discovered 
here.  Three  Red-throated  Pipits 
Anthus  cervinus  were  at  the  Kenema 
rice  fields  on  1 2th,  where  it  seems 
to  be  regular  (Borrow  & Demey 
2001  show  only  one  previous  record 
for  the  country).  A pair  of  Gola 
Malimbes  Malimbus  ballmanni  with 
two  full-grown  young  were  seen  in 
Gola  North  ( NB ). 

Somalia 

The  following  were  reported  from  a 
pionering  bird  tour  to  Somaliland  in 
February  2010.  An  adult  Archer’s 
Buzzard  Buteo  augur  archeri  was 
seen  on  the  Daallo  Escarpment 
on  15th.  Two  chestnut-winged 
francolins  flushed  at  the  same  site 
appeared  to  fit  the  description  of 
Archer’s  (Orange  River)  Francolin 
Francolinus  levaillantoides  lord, 


248  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


Figure  14.  Heuglin’s  Bustard  / 
Outarde  de  Heuglin  Neotis  heuglinii , 
male,  Inaafmadobe,  Somalia, 
February  2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  15.  Little  Brown  Bustard 
/ Outarde  somalienne  Eupodotis 
humilis , male,  Inaafmadobe,  Somalia, 
February  2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  16.  Somali  Short-toed  Lark  / 
Alouette  roussatre  CaLindrella  somalica 
percofusa,  Wajaale  Plains,  Somalia, 
February  2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  17.  Lesser  Hoopoe  Lark  / 

Sirli  de  Witherby  Alaemon  hamertoni, 
Banabe  Plains,  Somalia,  February 
2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  18.  Gillett’s  Lark  / Alouette 
de  Gillett  Mirafra  gilletti  arorihensis , 
Qorlilugud,  Somalia,  February  2010 
(Merilyn  Browne) 


Figure  19.  Somali  Wheatear  / 
Traquet  de  Somalie  Oenantbe 
phillipsi,  Hargeisa,  Somalia,  February 
2010  (Merilyn  Browne) 


although  it  cannot  be  excluded  that 
they  were  Yellow-necked  Spurfowl 

F.  leucoscepus,  which  was  observed 
nearby.  Three  Red-knobbed 
Coots  Fulica  cristata  were  found 
at  Waajale  Twon  reservoir  on  9th; 
this  species  is  not  mentioned  for 
the  north  of  Somalia  in  Ash  & 
Miskell  (1998.  Birds  of  Somalia) . 
Two  males  and  a female  Heuglin’s 
Bustard  Neotis  heuglinii  were  seen 
near  Inaafmadobe,  Qorlilugud,  and 
on  the  Banade  Plains,  respectively, 
on  1 3th— 1 5th  (Fig.  14).  Little 
Brown  Bustards  Eupodotis  humilis 
were  common  in  suitable  habitat 
throughout;  they  were  encountered 
daily,  with  a maximum  of  five  on 
15th  (Fig.  15). 

Three  very  tame  Somali  Larks 
Mirafra  somalica  were  photographed 
on  the  Banade  Plains  on  15th  (Fig. 
16).  Also  there  were  three  Foxy 


Larks  M.  alopex  of  the  nominate 
race  alopex,  whilst  the  large,  rather 
pipit-like  Lesser  Hoopoe  Lark 
Alaemon  hamertoni  was  numerous, 
with  up  to  15  sighted  on  1 4th,  with 
one  performing  its  characteristic 
song  flight  (Fig.  17).  Two  Gillett’s 
Larks  Mirafra  gilletti  of  the  pale 
race  arorihensis  were  watched 
near  Qorilugud  on  1 4th  (Fig. 

18).  Blanford’s  Lark  Calandrella 
blanfordi  of  the  distinctive  race 
daroodensis  was  seen  on  the  Waajale 
Plains  on  9th  and  on  the  Banade 
Plains  on  1 4th;  at  both  localities 
Somali  Short-toed  Lark  C.  somalica 
was  common. 

Somali  Thrush  Turdus  ( olivaceus ) 
ludoviciae  was  observed  at  Ga’an 
Libah  on  1 1 th— 12th  (several)  and 
was  the  commonest  bird  on  the 
upper  Daallo  Escarpment  with  up 
to  20  seen  per  day  (Fig-  20);  this 


Figure  20.  Somali  Thrush  / Merle  de 
Somalie  Turdus  ( olivaceus ) ludoviciae, 
Daallo,  Somalia,  February  2010 
(Hugh  Buck) 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -249 


endemic  blackbird  is  often  lumped 
with  the  widespread  but  dissimilar 
(both  in  appearance  and  habitat 
choice)  Olive  Thrush  T.  olivaceus  of 
East  Africa.  It  is  now  increasingly 
recognised  as  a Somali  endemic 
restricted  to  the  few  patches  of 
highland  juniper  forest  in  the  north 
of  Somaliland.  Somali  Wheatear 
Oenantbe phillipsi  was  common  in 
all  rocky  habitats  (Fig.  19),  whilst 
Philippa’s  Crombec  Sylvietta 
philippae  appeared  to  be  frequent  in 
Acacia  bush  north  of  Inaafmadobe 
and  near  Qorilugud,  with  up  to 
ten  seen.  Six  Pale  Rockfinches 
Carpospiza  brachydactyla  at  a watering 
hole  near  Wajaale  town  on  9th  was 
an  unexpected  find;  this  species  has 
previously  been  recorded  in  Djibouti, 
Eritrea  and  Ethiopia  but  apparently 
not  in  Somalia.  A young  male 
Somali  Golden-winged  Grosbeak 
Rhynchostruthus  louisae  was  observed 
on  the  Maydh  road  on  16th.  A single 
Warsangli  Linnet  Carduelis  johannis 
was  seen  along  the  Daallo— Maydh 
road  at  c.  1,800  m;  this  species  is 
endemic  to  the  mountains  of  north 
Somaliland  and  Daallo  is  in  the  far 
west  of  its  range  ( HB ). 

South  Africa 

Records  from  December  2009-June 
2010  include  the  following.  A Grey- 
backed  Storm-petrel  Garrodia  nereis 
observed  16  nautical  miles  south-west 
of  Cape  Point  on  27  December  was 
only  the  second  record  for  southern 
Africa  and  the  African  continent. 
Other  noteworthy  records  made 
at  sea  south-west  of  Cape  Town 
include  a Wandering  Albatross 
Diomedea  exulans  c. 20  nautical  miles 
off  St.  Helena  Bay  on  20  May, 
with  another  on  25  May,  a young 
Grey-headed  Albatross  Thalassarche 
chrysostoma  on  15  May,  with  an  adult 
on  25  May,  and  single  Spectacled 
Petrels  Procellaria  ( aequinoctialis ) 
conspicillata  on  10  April  and  5 June. 
In  May,  a Grey  Petrel  P.  cinerea  and 
a Slender-billed  Prion  Pachyptila 
belcheri  were  seen  in  southern  African 
waters  from  a vessel  returning  from 
Marion  Island.  A pelagic  trip  c.50 
km  off  Richards  Bay,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  on  10-12  June  produced  a 
Light-mantled  Albatross  Phoebetria 


palpebrata,  two  Greater  Frigatebirds 

Fregata  minor , 300+  Sooty  Terns 
Sterna  fuscata  and  a Grey-headed 
Kingfisher  Halcyon  leucocephala  that 
rested  on  the  boat  for  a few  hours 
on  12th. 

An  immature  Greater  Frigatebird 

stayed  in  the  Durban  area,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  from  December  2009  until 
at  least  late  May.  An  Australian 
Gannet  Morus  senator  was  seen  on 
Malgas  Island,  Western  Cape,  on 
31  March  and  31  May.  Following 
the  influx  of  African  Openbills 
Anastomus  lamelligerus  throughout 
the  country  in  November-December 
2009,  birds  were  being  seen  during 
the  entire  period.  Most  records 
involved  singles  or  small  groups, 
but  in  Western  Cape  a flock  of  27 
was  at  Elgin  on  24  March  (second- 
largest  for  the  province),  whilst  1 1 
were  near  Sedgefield  on  9 June.  In 
Eastern  Cape,  48  stayed  at  Mooiplaas 
in  March-April  and  20  were  present 
at  a small  dam  near  the  St.  Francis 
Links  Golf  Estate  on  29  April.  In 
North  West  Province,  15  birds 
stayed  at  Potchefstroom  until  at  least 
10  May,  whilst  in  KwaZulu-Natal 
at  least  12  were  near  Ixopo  on  31 
May.  Marabou  Storks  Leptoptilos 
crumeniferus  were  seen  in  Western 
Cape  west  of  Heidelberg  on  4 March 
(one  with  a flock  of  White  Storks 
Ciconia  ciconia ),  at  the  N7  / M19 
junction  on  18  March  (one),  and  at 
Brandvlei  Dam,  near  Worcester,  in 
late  May  (two). 

An  Osprey  Pandion  haliaetus  in 
Pilanesberg  National  Park,  North 
West,  on  5 June  was  an  unusual 
record.  Eurasian  Honey  Buzzards 
Pernis  apivorus  were  reported,  in 
Western  Cape,  near  the  top  of 
Kloof  Nek  Road  on  27  February,  at 
Stellenbosch  on  13  March,  in  the 
Banghoek  Valley  near  Stellenbosch 
on  4 April  and  at  Kenilworth  on  3 
May;  in  KwaZulu-Natal,  one  was 
north  of  Durban  on  3 April.  A Bat 
Hawk  Machieramphus  alcinus  was 
seen  near  Vogelfontein,  Limpopo, 
on  2-3  April,  a Black-chested 
Snake  Eagle  Circaetus  pectoralis 
near  King  Williamstown,  Eastern 
Cape,  on  7 March  and  a Brown 
Snake  Eagle  C.  cinereus  at  the 
Blaauwberg  Hill  Conservation  Area, 


Western  Cape,  in  early  March.  A 
Western  Marsh  Harrier  Circus 
aeruginosas  was  photographed  at 
Marievale  Bird  Sanctuary,  Gauteng, 
on  8 January,  whilst  a male  Pallid 
Harrier  C.  macrourus  was  observed 
near  Harrismith,  Free  State,  in  late 
February.  A Tawny  Eagle  Acjuila 
rapax  was  present  in  the  Imfolozi 
Game  Reserve,  KwaZulu-Natal,  on 
30  May.  A female  Amur  Falcon 
Falco  amurensis  was  seen  near 
Bredasdorp,  Western  Cape,  on  27 
February  and  a Sooty  Falcon  F. 
concolor  near  the  Afsaal  Tea  Room  in 
Kruger  National  Park,  Mpumalanga, 
on  9 April. 

An  African  Crake  Crex  egregia 
was  found  west  of  Port  Elizabeth, 
Eastern  Cape,  on  16  May  and  a 
Spotted  Crake  Porzana  porzana 
at  the  Sappi  Stanger  wetlands, 
KwaZulu-Natal,  on  27  February. 

In  Limpopo,  there  were  reports  of 
Striped  Crake  Aenigmatolimnas 
marginalis  from  the  Nylsvlei  area 
on  21  March  and  2—3  April.  Four 
Black  Crakes  Amaurornis  flavirostra 
reported  along  the  Orange  River  at 
De  Hoop,  Northern  Cape,  on  21 
April,  were  well  out  of  range.  In 
Gauteng,  a Wattled  Crane  Bugeranus 
carunculatus  was  in  a flock  of  150+ 
Blue  Cranes  Anthropoides paradiseus 
in  farmland  south  of  Devon  on  1—23 
May. 

At  least  four  Crab  Plovers 

Dromas  ardeola  stayed  in  the 
Southern  Sanctuary  Area,  Richards 
Bay,  KwaZulu-Natal,  from  August 
2009  until  at  least  mid  May.  A 
Eurasian  Oystercatcher  Haematopus 
ostralegus  was  at  Bot  River  Lagoon, 
Western  Cape,  from  1 1 March 
until  at  least  24th.  African  Black 
Oystercatchers  H.  moquini  were 
noted  near  Durban,  KwaZulu- 
Natal,  on  29  May  and  23  June.  In 
Western  Cape,  a Chestnut-banded 
Plover  Charadrius  pallidus  was  seen 
on  the  edge  of  Langvlei,  Wilderness 
National  Park,  on  12  June.  A Lesser 
Sand  Plover  C.  mongolus  was  present 
at  Seeberg  in  West  Coast  National 
Park,  Western  Cape,  on  1 1—13 
March,  with  at  least  two  there  on 
14-25  March  and  a Broad-billed 
Sandpiper  Limicola  falcinellus  on 
14  March  and  3 April.  At  the  same 


250  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Recent  Reports 


site,  the  sixth  Hudsonian  Godwit 

Limosa  haemastica  for  southern  Africa 
was  found  on  10  March  and  still 
present  on  25th.  In  KwaZulu-Natal, 
Green  Sandpipers  Tringa  ochropus 
were  reported  in  the  period  mid 
December-mid  February,  including 
one  at  Darvill  Bird  Sanctuary, 
Pietermaritzburg,  another  at  the 
Sappi  Stanger  wetlands  and  a third 
near  Nyala  Game  Ranch. 

A fishing  trip  in  Western  Cape 
produced  an  adult  Franklin’s  Gull 
Lams  pipixcan  a few  miles  off  Sea 
Point  on  22  May;  another  was  seen 
feeding  on  emerging  alates  near  the 
Nxaxo  estuary  at  Wavecrest,  Eastern 
Cape,  on  10  June.  An  immature 
Lesser  Black-backed  Gull  L.  fuscus 
stayed  at  Orient  Beach,  East  London, 
Eastern  Cape,  throughout  the  period; 
it  was  joined  by  an  adult  on  23 
April.  In  Western  Cape,  a Roseate 
Tern  Sterna  dougallii  was  located  in 
a roost  of  mostly  Greater  Crested 
Terns  S.  bergii  at  Kommetjie  on  10 
March,  whilst  one  in  full  breeding 
plumage  was  found  on  Malgas 
Island  on  31  May.  For  the  tenth 
consecutive  year,  a Bridled  Tern  5. 
anaethetus  returned  to  Cape  Recife, 
near  Port  Elizabeth,  Eastern  Cape, 
in  May;  it  was  still  there  in  late  June. 
In  KwaZulu-Natal,  south-east  of 
Mtunzini  and  c.  13  km  offshore,  a 
Brown  Noddy  Anous  stolidus  landed 
on  a fishing  boat  on  2 April. 

A Jacobin  Cuckoo  Clamator 
jacobinus  at  Jakkelsfontein,  south 
of  Yzerfontein,  Western  Cape,  on 
4 March,  was  an  interesting  record. 
Also  of  interest  was  a Black  Coucal 
Centropus  grillii  on  the  western  shore 
of  Lake  St.  Lucia,  KwaZulu-Natal, 
on  24  March.  A European  Nightjar 
Caprimulgus  europaeus  was  reported 
near  Rondevlei  in  Wilderness 
National  Park,  Western  Cape,  on  18 
May;  this  is  an  extremely  uncommon 
bird  in  the  province.  Two  Swallow- 
tailed Bee-eaters  Merops  hirundineus 
were  at  Simon’s  Town,  on  2 June; 
there  are  only  a few  previous  records 
from  Western  Cape.  Two  White- 
fronted  Bee-eaters  M.  bullockoides 
stayed  around  the  Tsitsikamma 
Coastal  Golf  Estate,  Eastern  Cape,  in 
the  early  part  of  June.  In  Limpopo, 
two  White-throated  Bee-eaters  M. 


albicollis  in  a group  of  European  Bee- 
eaters  M.  apiaster  were  photographed 
at  Balule  Nature  Reserve,  on  18 
March.  In  the  Western  Cape,  four 
Blue-cheeked  Bee-eaters  M.  persicus 
stayed  near  Sedgefield  from  late 
February  until  early  April.  In  the 
same  province,  a Southern  Yellow- 
billed Hornbill  Tockus  leucomelas 
reported  from  a farm  c.  50  km  north 
ol  Beaufort  West,  in  May,  appeared 
to  have  been  in  the  area  for  about  a 
year. 

A male  Yellow  Wagtail  Motacilla 
flava  was  at  Strandfontein  Sewage 
Works,  Western  Cape,  on  11-18 
March.  In  North  West  Province, 
Tree  Pipits  Anthus  trivialis  stayed 
at  Kgaswane  Nature  Reserve  near 
Rustenburg  from  February;  two 
were  still  there  on  2 March,  with  at 
least  one  until  7 March.  In  Eastern 
Cape,  a vagrant  Red-capped  Robin 
Chat  Cossypha  natalensis  flew  into  a 
window  in  St.  Francis  Bay  on  2 May, 
whilst  one  was  caught  by  a cat  in 
Kimberley  around  the  same  time.  A 
Bush  Blackcap  Lioptilus  nigricapillus 
was  reported  from  a Durban 
garden  on  13  June.  A House  Crow 
Corvus  splendens  was  noted  in  East 
London,  Eastern  Cape,  on  15  June. 

A Red-billed  Oxpecker  Buphagus 
erythrorhynchus  was  reported  from 
Keurbooms  River  Game  Trails, 
Western  Cape,  in  May;  local 
rangers  apparently  have  been  seeing 
oxpeckers  there  since  February.  The 
area  near  Cofimvaba,  in  the  former 
Transkei,  Eastern  Cape,  produced 
a Black-chested  Prinia  Prinia 
flavicans  and  a Scaly-feathered 
Finch  Sporopipes  squamifrons  in 
early  March;  both  species  were  well 
south-east  of  their  known  ranges.  In 
Mpumalanga,  a male  Red-headed 
Finch  Amadina  erythrocepbala  was 
reported  from  the  Lower  Sabie  camp, 
Kruger  National  Park,  on  21  March 
(per  777). 

Tanzania 

A Eurasian  Wryneck  Jynx  torquilla 
was  photographed  in  Arusha 
National  Park  on  1 1 January  2010; 
this  is  apparently  the  first  for  the 
country  and  it  may  well  constitute 
the  southernmost  record  for  this 
species  in  Africa  {ASK). 


Togo 

On  18  October  2009,  at  least  245 
African  Openbills  Anastomus 
lamelligerus  flew  south-west  in  small 
groups  along  the  Zio  River  north  of 
Lome.  The  same  day,  a mixed  flock 
of  >800  terns  was  observed  ar  the 
beach  near  Lome  harbour.  The  flock 
consisted  of  c.500  Common  Terns 
Sterna  hirundo , r.200  Royal  Terns  S. 
maxima  and  c.  100  Sandwich  Terns 
S.  sandvicensis , with  a few  Black 
Terns  Chlidonias  niger  (JM  & SM). 

Tunisia 

A visit  in  late  October  2009  yielded 
a flock  of  1 1 Thick-billed  Larks 
Ramphocoris  clotbey  at  Matmata  on 
21st  and  up  to  30  Desert  Sparrows 
Passer  simplex  in  Djebil  National  Park 
on  21st-22nd,  whilst  a flock  of  14 
early  Ring  Ouzels  Turdus  torquatus 
was  observed  on  Djebel  Chambi  on 
30th  {HE). 

Uganda 

Records  from  November  2009-May 
2010  include  the  following.  An  adult 
Greater  Spotted  Eagle  Aquila  clanga 
was  photographed  at  Murchison  Falls 
National  Park  on  15  December  (Fig. 
21);  although  a few  sight  records 
have  been  reported  previously  ( cf 
Carswell  et  al.  2005.  The  Bird  Atlas 
of  Uganda),  the  species  does  not 
figure  on  the  Uganda  list,  as  no 
substantiating  details  are  available. 

A juvenile  Amur  Falcon  Falco 
amurensis  was  observed  at  Ruhija, 
Bwindi  Impenetrable  National  Park, 
on  3 December;  there  are  few  records 
for  the  country  ( DFo ). 

Lesser  Jacanas  Microparra  capensis 
were  seen  at  Mbwamba  swamp  on 
10  January  (three),  Lake  Opeta 
on  26th  (30+)  and  Lake  Bisina 
on  27th  (three).  A Little  Ringed 
Plover  Charadrius  dubius  flew  over 
Muyenga  on  on  7 January;  this  is 
an  uncommon  Palearctic  visitor  to 
Uganda.  Two  Great  Snipe  Gallinago 
media  were  at  Nabugaba  wetland  on 
7 March.  A Caspian  Tern  Sterna 
caspia  was  noted  at  Lutembe  on 
28  February  (RS).  A first-winter 
Black  Tern  Chlidonias  niger  was 
photographed  among  hundreds  of 
White-winged  Terns  C.  leucopterus 
on  the  Kazinga  Channel,  Queen 


Recent  Reports 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -251 


Figure  21.  Greater  Spotted  Eagle  / 
Aigle  criard  Aquila  clanga,  Murchison 
Falls  National  Park,  Uganda,  15 
December  2009  (Dick  Forsman) 


Figure  22.  Black  Tern  / Guifette  noire 
Chlidonias  niger,  Kazinga  Channel, 
Queen  Elizabeth  National  Park, 
Uganda,  8 December  2009  (Dick 
Forsman) 

Elizabeth  National  Park,  on  8 
December  (Fig.  22);  this  appears  to 
be  the  first  for  Uganda  ( DFo ). 

An  African  Skimmer  Rynchops 
flavirostris  was  at  Makanaga  swamp 
on  2 May;  this  species  is  very  local 
in  the  country.  A Black-throated 
Barbet  Tricholaema  melanocephala 
observed  at  the  Katurum  gate  of 
Kidepo  Valley  National  Park,  in  the 
north-east,  on  17  January  constitutes 
the  second  record  for  Uganda,  the 
first  dating  from  1994.  Palearctic 
passerines  seen  during  the  same  visit 
and  apparently  not  on  the  park’s  list 
include  Tree  Pipit  Anthus  trivialis 
(fairly  common),  Eurasian  Reed 


Warbler  Acrocephalus  scirpaceus  (two 
singing)  and  Olivaceous  Warbler 
Hippolais pallida  (one).  Little  Rush 
Warblers  Bradypterus  baboecala 
were  seen  and  heard  at  Muyenga 
swamp,  Kampala,  on  17  November 
(one)  and  at  a swamp  between 
Muyenga  and  Port  Bell,  on  1 January 
(three).  A pair  of  Southern  Black 
Flycatchers  Melaenornis  pammelaina 
was  observed  at  close  range  in  Lake 
Mburo  National  Park  on  5-7  March; 
the  birds  were  glossy  blue-black  and 
the  song  was  very  similar  to  a tape- 
recording from  Zambia,  but  unlike 
that  of  Northern  Black  Flycatcher 
M.  edolioides.  Although  there  have 
been  other  recent  records  of  Southern 
Black  Flycatchers  from  Mburo,  the 
species  does  not  yet  figure  on  the 
Uganda  list.  An  Isabelline  Shrike 
Lanius  isabellinus  was  at  Port  Bell  on 
17  February.  In  January,  six  House 
Sparrows  Passer  domesticus  were  seen 
at  the  landing  site  at  Bogota,  and  a 
male  was  at  Port  Bell  on  1 February. 
Fox’s  Weavers  Ploceus  spekeoides 
were  found  at  Lake  Opeta  (two)  and 
Lake  Bisina  (five)  on  26-27  January. 
A 'nuthatch  weaver’  subsequently 
identified  as  a female  Yellow-capped 
Weaver  P.  dorsomaculatus,  was 
observed  in  the  Buhoma  area  of 
Bwindi  in  December;  this  would 
constitute  another  first  for  Uganda. 
Also  new  for  the  country  is  Southern 
Citril  Serinus  hypostictus,  of  which  at 
least  ten  were  seen  on  the  slopes  of 
Mount  Elgon  at  Sipi  on  5-7  April 
(PS). 

Zimbabwe 

Reports  from  mid-December 
2009-mid-February  2010  include  a 
Lesser  Cuckoo  Cuculus  poliocephalus 
in  Vimba  Forest  and  a Blackcap 
Sylvia  atricapilla  in  Mutarazi  Falls 
National  Park,  with  another  two  near 
Mutare.  A Collared  Palm  Thrush 
Cichladusa  torquata  that  took  up 
residence  in  an  Avondale  garden  in 
Harare  in  April  was  well  outside  the 
species’  known  range  (per  777). 


Records  were  collated  by  Ron  Demey 
from  contributions  supplied  by  Jason 
Anderson  (JA),  Nacho  Aransay  (NA), 
Jean-Claude  Beaudoin  (JCB),  Geert 
Beckers  (GB),  Mark  Beevers  (MB), 
Max  Biasioli  / Skua  Nature  (MBi), 

Nik  Borrow  / Birdquest  (1 SB),  BirdLife 
Botswana  (BLB),  Nicky  Bousfield 
(NBo),  Chris  Brewster  ( CB),  Joost 
Brouwer  (JB),  Hugh  Buck  (HB), 

Robert  Burton  (RB),  Mohamed  Balia 
Conde  (MBC),  Robert  J.  Dowsett 
(RJD),  Frangoise  Dowsett-Lemaire 
(FD-L),  Marchia  Eifler  (ME),  Denis 
Farges  (DF),  Ali  Flatt  (AF),  Dick 
Forsman  (DFo),  Alain  Fosse  (AFo), 
Elmar  Fuchs  (EF),  Matteo  Gagliardone 
/ Skua  Nature  (MG),  Fraser  Gear  / 
Rockjumper  (FG),  Trevor  Hardaker 
(TH),  Jens  Hering  (JH),  Harold 
Hester  (HH),  David  Hoddinott  (DH), 
Housseini  Issaka  (HI),  Colin  Jackson 
( CJ),  Adam  Scott  Kennedy  (ASK), 
David  Kusserow  (DK),  Kevin  Lambeets 
(KL),  Adam  Manvell  (AM),  Johannes 
Merz  (JM),  Sharon  Merz  (SM),  Mark 
Muller  (MM),  Liliana  Pacheco  (LP), 
Wouter  Plomp  (WP),  Bruno  Portier 
(BP),  Remo  Probst  (RP),  Andy  Pugh 
(AP),  Thomas  Rabeil  (TR),  Richard 
Randall  (RR),  Nicola  Scatassi  / Skua 
Nature  (NS),  Adrian  Skerrett  (AS), 
Kadiatou  Soumah  (KS),  Roger  Skeen 
(RS),  Rainer  Summers  / Rockjumper 
( RSu ),  Botswana  Tickbird  (BT),  Chris 
Townend  ( CT),  Nicolas  Vanermen 
(NV),  Cheryl  Vroom  ( CV),  Tim 
Wacher  (TW),  Stephen  Walters  (SW), 
Ian  White  (IW),  Inaki  Zabala  (IZ), 
and  from  Africa — Birds  & Birding, 
Birding  World,  Dutch  Birding, 
capebirdnet,  SARareBirdAlert, 
www.zesforbirds.co.za  and 
sa-rarebirdnews@googlegroups.com. 

Contributions  for  Recent  Reports  can 
be  sent  to  Ron  Demey,  Tenierslaan 
24,  B-3500  Hasselt,  Belgium  and 
(preferably)  by  e-mail:  rondemeyl  @ 
gmail.com  or  recent_reports@ 
africanbirdclub.  org 


252  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


. Recent  Reports 


Reviews 


Birding  Ethiopia:  A Guide  to  the 
Country’s  Birding  Sites 

Ken  Behrens,  Keith  Barnes  & Christian 
Boix,  2010.  Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions.  189 
pp,  photographs  and  maps.  Softback.  ISBN 
978-84-96553-55-2.  UKE25.99. 

Where  to  Watch  Birds  in 
Ethiopia 

Claire  Spottiswoode,  Merid  Gabremichael 
& Julian  Francis,  2010.  London,  UK: 
Christopher  Helm.  192  pp,  266  photos  and 
29  maps.  Softback.  ISBN  978-1-4081- 
3075-9.  UKE19.99. 

Bird  books  about  Ethiopia  have 
been  a bit  like  buses  recently — we 
have  waited  years  for  something  and 
suddenly  several  come  along  all  at 
once.  Following  hot  on  the  heels  of 
the  superb  Field  Guide  to  the  Birds 
of  the  Horn  of  Africa  (see  review  in 
Bull.  ABC  16:  243—244),  and  the 
equally  excellent  Birds  of  Ethiopia 
and  Eritrea:  An  Atlas  of  Distribution 
(reviewed  in  Bull.  ABC  17:  128-129) 
comes  not  one  but  two  guides  on 
bird-finding  in  Ethiopia. 

These  new  books  are  very  similar 
to  one  another,  which  is  perhaps  to 
be  expected  with  site  guides.  Ethiopia 
has  a well-established  history  of 
numerous  bird  tour  operators  and 
independent  birders  visiting,  and 
both  books  draw  heavily  on  the 
accumulated  knowledge  from  these 
sources,  as  well  as  on  information 
supplied  by  the  increasing  number 
of  local  guides.  Indeed  the  Helm 
book  is  co-authored  by  Merid 
Gabremichael,  one  of  the  most 
knowledgeable  such  guides  in  the 
country. 

Both  works  possess  useful 
introductory  chapters  describing 
the  country  and  discussing  the 
practicalities  of  travelling  in  Ethiopia, 
a country  both  very  different  and 
fascinating  compared  to  the  normal 
experience  of  Western  birders.  There 


is  information  on  safety  and  security, 
the  best  times  to  go,  and  suggested 
itineraries.  Both  books  serve  the 
purpose  of  a site  guide  admirably, 
giving  accurate  directions  to  the 
places  they  cover  and  descriptions  of 
what  to  look  for  at  each  site.  There 
are  clear,  easy  to  read  maps  in  both 
books,  with  GPS  coordinates  for 
several  sites,  which  really  should 
be  a feature  of  all  such  site  guides 
these  days.  These  are  given  within 
the  text  in  the  Lynx  book,  but  the 
Spottiswoode  et  al.  guide  cross-refers 
to  an  appendix  containing  all  of  the 
GPS  coordinates.  The  Helm  guide 
also  advises  that  these  are  available 
electronically  from  one  of  the  authors 
for  uploading  into  your  GPS, 
which  is  a nice  touch.  Both  books 
are  liberally  peppered  with  superb 
photos,  some  of  birds  that  were  until 
recently  of  almost  mythical  status, 
while  the  Helm  guide  has  a useful 
photographic  guide  to  the  'top  30 
birds’  towards  the  end. 

Of  the  two,  the  Spottiswoode  et 
al.  guide  is  the  more  comprehensive, 
covering  30  different  locations, 
whereas  Behrens  et  al.  list  just  26, 
although  some  of  these  26  include 
sites  that  are  treated  separately  in 
the  Helm  volume.  This  greater 
coverage  allows  the  Helm  book  to 
include  such  excellent  birding  sites  as 
Bahar  Dar  at  the  source  of  the  Blue 


WHERE  TO  WATCH  BIROS  IN 

ETHIOPIA 


Nile  on  the  southern  shores  of  Lake 
Tana,  and  the  ‘strange’  Gambella 
in  the  south-west.  Hopefully,  this 
greater  coverage  may  tempt  visiting 
birders  to  explore  a few  places  off 
the  beaten  ‘endemic  track’.  The 
brevity  of  the  Lynx  guide  does  have 
its  shortcomings.  Bilen  Lodge  in 
the  Awash  area  is  described  in  a few 
lines  as  offering  birding  similar  to 
Awash  National  Park,  which  is  really 
not  doing  the  site  justice,  while  in 
contrast  the  Helm  book  devotes 
significantly  more  space  to  this 
excellent  region. 

In  terms  of  providing  other 
information  useful  for  planning  a 
trip,  I consider  the  Helm  guide  to 
again  be  the  superior  of  the  two.  The 
list  of  contacts  in  the  Lynx  book  is 
woefully  brief.  Despite  being  told 
earlier  in  the  book  that  ‘several  large 
birding  tour  companies  offer  trips 
to  Ethiopia  (see  Contacts)’  there  are 
only  two  listed,  both  linked  to  the 
tour  company  that  the  authors  work 
for.  The  Helm  guide  provides  the 
names  of  21  contacts.  Many  of  these 
are  hotels  in  key  sites  backed-up 
with  phone  numbers.  The  list  also 
includes  some  of  the  best  ground 
agents — all  really  useful  information 
when  planning  a trip.  These 
comments  aside,  both  books  will 
serve  anyone  visiting  Ethiopia  well 
and,  with  the  other  books  referred 


Reviews 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) - 253 


to  in  the  opening  paragraph,  there 
really  is  no  excuse  for  not  planning 
a visit  to  this  most  interesting  corner 
of  Africa.  Indeed,  hopefully,  these 
two  site  guides  will  encourage  more 
people  to  experience  Ethiopia’s  varied 
wildlife — with  a human  population 
rising  almost  exponentially,  it  needs 
all  the  help  it  can  get. 

Steve  Rooke 


Complete  Photographic  Field 
Guide:  Birds  of  Southern  Africa 

Ian  Sinclair  & Peter  Ryan,  2009.  Cape 
Town:  Struik  Nature.  432  pp,  more  than 
2,500  colour  photographs,  975  distribution 
maps.  Softback.  ISBN  978-1-77007-388-3. 
UKE24.99. 

Vogel  in  Afrika.  Ein  fotografis- 
cher  Naturfiihrer  fur  Afrika 

Rainer  Christian  Ertel,  2009.  Nottuln:  Fauna 
Verlag.  398  pp,  more  than  1,300  colour  pho- 
tographs and  distribution  maps.  Softback. 
ISBN  978-3-935980-18-0.  €49.00.  (info@ 
fauna-verlag.de) 

Although  southern  Africa  is  covered 
by  the  widest  range  of  ornithological 
works  on  the  African  continent  by 
far,  new  bird  books  keep  appearing. 
The  latest  of  these  is  a photographic 
field  guide  by  well-known  birders 
Ian  Sinclair  and  Peter  Ryan.  Sinclair 
already  has  a whole  series  of  bird 
guides  to  the  region,  including 
photographic  ones,  to  his  credit, 
so  what’s  new  about  this  book? 

The  novelty  principally  resides  in 
the  number  and  the  quality  of  the 
photographs.  Indeed,  the  authors 
can  rightly  claim  to  present  the 
most  comprehensive  collection  of 
photographs — more  than  2,500 
of  them — of  the  region’s  birds  in 
one  handy  volume.  Instead  of  each 
of  the  975  species  (including  17 
from  Antarctica  and  the  Southern 
Ocean)  being  illustrated  by  a single 
photograph,  as  was  the  case  in 
previous  guides,  all  now  have  at  least 
two,  some  even  up  to  six.  For  only 
four  species  no  images  were  available; 
these  are  illustrated  by  artwork.  Per 
plate,  there  are  2-7  species  (usually 
5-6),  with  8-20  photographs  (mostly 
10-16).  As  some  species,  e.g.  raptors, 


COMPUTl  PHOTOGRAPHIC  HUD  GUIDl 

M’ 

of  Southern  Africa 

4 

Over  2 500  Image*  A 
lot  accurate 

" / 

Sinclair 
Peter  Ryan 

sasoL  #4K 

are  illustrated  with  a relatively 
large  number  of  photographs  on  a 
single  plate,  some  images  are  only 
thumbnails  (see  e.g.  the  harrier  plate, 
with  20  photos).  However,  as  the 
photographs  are  generally  of  high 
quality,  useful  characteristics  are 
still  visible.  The  species  accounts, 
on  the  opposite  page,  have  been 
substantially  revised  compared 
to  previous  guides,  and  now  also 
provide  weights  and  diet,  and  the 
small  but  clear  distribution  maps 
have  been  updated.  A useful  feature 
is  a calendar  bar  showing  seasonality 
of  occurrence  and  breeding  (an 
improved  version  of  the  bar  in  the 
Roberts  Bird  Guide , reviewed  in  Bull 
ABC  15:  283-284,  which  shows 
only  breeding  seasonality).  The 
book  is  attractively  laid  out,  as  we’ve 
come  to  expect  from  this  publisher, 
and  is  a pleasure  to  browse.  But 
can  it  replace  a ‘classic’  field  guide 
with  colour  paintings  rather  than 
photographs?  Despite  the  huge 
improvements,  the  usual  objections 
against  photographic  guides  remain 
pertinent:  not  all  plumages  are 
illustrated  and,  most  importantly, 
similar  species  are  not  conveniently 
shown  in  similar  postures.  The 
layout  of  the  photographs,  although 
generally  pleasing  to  the  eye,  also 
does  not  allow  the  reader  to  quickly 
grasp  the  clinching  identification 
features,  as  first  one  has  to  figure 
out  which  images  refer  to  each 
species.  On  the  positive  side,  it  is 
undoubtedly  true  that  photographs 
often  better  convey  the  ‘jizz’  of  the 
birds.  As  this  well  produced,  rather 


large  (1 6.6  x 24.6  cm)  book  is 
packed  with  information,  much  of 
it  not  habitually  included  within  a 
‘classic’  field  guide,  it  will  usefully 
complement  such  a guide. 

How  different  is  the  German 
book!  Although  it  basically  follows 
the  same,  now  standard,  format  of 
plates  opposite  text  and  distribution 
maps,  we’re  back  to  the  photographic 
guides  of  the  1 980— 90s,  with  a single 
photograph  for  each  species.  This  is 
understandable,  as  the  book  presents 
over  1 ,300  species  from  the  whole 
of  Africa,  with  eight  photographs 
per  page.  Most  images  are  good  to 
acceptable,  but  some  are  just  ‘record 
shots’,  while  others  are  not  really 
useful  for  identification  purposes. 

The  accompanying  species  accounts, 
which  conveniently  not  only  mention 
German  and  scientific,  but  also 
English  names,  are  very  brief,  with 
just  2—6  (generally  3—4)  lines  per 
species,  giving  a succinct  description 
of  identification  features,  habitat 
and  voice.  Their  brevity  would  not 
necessarily  be  a drawback,  if  the 
accompanying  image  clearly  showed 
each  bird’s  diagnostic  features. 
Unfortunately,  this  is  not  always  the 
case.  Many  pages  have  blank  spaces 
that  could  usefully  have  been  filled 
with  essential  additional  information. 
Although  this  book  is  presented  as  a 
field  guide,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine 
that  a more  or  less  serious  birder 
would  be  tempted  to  use  it  as  such. 
For  the  ‘bird-minded’  tourist,  on 
the  other  hand,  this  collection  of 
images  may  be  insufficiently  glossy 
and  attractive,  and  may  confusingly 


254  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Reviews 


contain  too  many  species.  So  the 
book  appears  to  be  some  kind  of 
unsatisfying  hybrid:  neither  a field 
guide  nor  a coffee-table  book. 

This  is  a pity,  especially  as  there 
are  extremely  few  recent  books  on 
African  birds  in  German. 

Ron  Demey 


Sur  les  traces  du  roi  des  marais 
(On  the  trail  of  the  king  of  the 
wetlands) 

Genevieve  Renson,  2008.  Paris:  Kubik 
Editions.  159  pp,  full  colour  throughout. 
Hardback.  ISBN-13:  978-2350830513. 
UKE45. 

This  French-language  book  is  an 
unusual  and  beautifully  produced 
combination  of  wonderful  photos 
and  descriptions  of  the  wetland 
environments  where  Shoebills 
Bnlaeniceps  rex  occur,  focusing  on 
two  areas,  including  Bangweulu  in 
Zambia.  The  descriptions  of  the 
local  way  of  life  and  the  often  harsh 
realities  for  the  author  in  spending 
33  months  over  a seven-year  period 
acquainting  herself  with  the  species, 
occupy  a very  large  proportion  of 
this  large-format  work.  It  is  rather 
more  than  a coffee-table  book,  which 
after  >100  pages  describing  the  areas, 
threats  and  other  issues,  goes  on  to 
precis  the  species’  feeding,  courtship 
and  breeding  habits.  For  anyone  with 
an  interest  in  natural  history  or  in 
visiting  the  wetland  areas  concerned, 
this  may  well  inspire  interest  in 
the  species  and  its  biome — and  the 
book  contains  some  engaging  stories 
of  rescuing  birds  and  the  differing 
perceptions  of  local  people  to  the 


author’s  dedication  to  study  the 
species. 

Considering  the  Shoebill’s  near- 
legendary status  among  naturalists, 
it  seems  surprising  that  there  has 
not  been  a book  or  more  scientific 
papers  dedicated  to  the  species 
before  now,  although  the  practical 
difficulties  make  this  gap  rather  more 
understandable.  The  descriptions  of 
behaviour  are  certainly  fascinating, 
if  somewhat  anecdotal  in  style. 
Whether  systematic  data  were  also 
collected  by  the  author  and  will  be 
published  elsewhere  is  unclear,  but  it 
seems  unlikely.  Very  few  publications 
are  cited,  and  I was  left  somewhat 
concerned  that  more  systematic 
information  quantifying  the  threats 
may  well  be  urgently  needed. 

But  that  is  not  what  this  book 
sets  out  to  do — it  portrays  the 
extraordinary  environment  and 
character  of  Shoebills,  highlighting 
the  worrying  declines,  and  I 
strongly  suspect  it  will  successfully 
generate  interest  and  support  for 
conserving  these  seriously  threatened 
wetlands.  The  price  is  definitely 
quite  reasonable  for  such  a high- 
quality  production,  but  to  learn 
about  the  species  and  its  threats 
as  much  or  more  information  is 
probably  available  on  the  BirdLife 
International  website  or  within  Red 
Data  book  accounts.  The  book  has 
received  various  awards  and  acclaim, 
and  for  those  interested  in  either  the 
habitat  or  this  amazing  species,  it  is  a 
book  you  will  want  to  own! 

Chris  Bowden 


Breeding  Birds  of  the  Western 
Palearctic:  Nests,  Eggs, 
Nestlings,  Fledglings  and 
Habitats 

Peter  Castell  & Richard  Castell.  Sheffield: 
Birdguides  Ltd.  DVD  covering  756  spp.. 
with  9,000  photographs.  ISBN  978-1- 
89811-050-7.  Available  from  Birdguides. 
com.  UKE99.95. 

As  someone  who  has  had  a life- 
long interest  in  the  nesting  habits 
of  African  birds,  I am  awed  by  the 
remarkable  collection  of  9,000 
photographs  of  nests,  eggs  and 


nestlings  presented  in  this  DVD. 
Remarkable  because  there  are  nest, 
egg  and  /or  nestling  photographs 
for  all  but  20  of  the  756  species  that 
breed  in  the  Western  Palearctic. 
Nearly  one-third  of  these  species 
also  breed  in  Africa,  so  the  DVD  has 
much  of  interest  for  African  birders. 
Finding  and  photographing  a rare 
bird  can  be  challenging  in  itself, 
but  doing  the  same  for  the  nest  of 
the  same  bird  is  another  ball-game, 
often  requiring  exceptional  field  skills 
which  the  compilers  of  this  DVD, 
father  and  son,  Peter  & Richard 
Castell,  clearly  have  in  abundance. 
This,  coupled  with  their  exceptional 
photographic  ability,  has  resulted  in 
this  most  comprehensive  pictorial 
reference  of  how  and  where  Western 
Palearctic  birds  nest  and  what  their 
nests,  eggs  and  nestlings  look  like. 

The  DVD  is  easy  to  use,  with 
an  extensive  introduction  followed 
by  a species-by-species  presentation 
of  breeding  data  and  photographs. 
One  can  access  a species  by  using 
the  alphabetic  listing  or  by  following 
family  order.  For  each  species 
selected,  small  icons  appear  of  the 
nesting  photographs,  together  with 
a brief  text  outlining  the  bird’s 
breeding  habits,  and  clicking  an 
icon  produces  the  enlarged  image, 
accompanied  by  a panel  in  which 
the  location  and  date  where  the 
photograph  was  taken,  is  given, 
plus  the  photographer’s  name.  The 
vast  majority  of  the  images  are  by 
Peter  and  Richard  supplemented 
by  photographs  from  c.  100  other 
photographers.  For  many  commoner 
birds  there  are  20-30  images  per 
species  (Golden  Eagle  Aquila 
chiysaetos  top  scores  with  58  images), 


Reviews 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -255 


while  rarer  species  usually  run  to 
fewer  than  ten. 

In  most  species,  the  first  images 
are  of  the  bird’s  nesting  habitat, 
sometimes  with  the  nest’s  position  in 
a tree  or  shrub  highlighted.  Next  is 
a series  of  images  of  nests  with  eggs 
or  nestlings  that,  in  the  commoner 
species  at  least,  give  coverage  to  the 
variability  that  may  exist  in  choice  of 
nest  site  or  egg  colour.  Tawny  Owl 
Strix  aluco  nests,  for  example,  are 
shown  in  holes  in  trees,  in  buildings, 
in  nest  boxes,  in  a crow  Corvus  nest, 
and  on  the  ground.  The  quality  of 
the  photographs  is  mostly  very  good, 
but  it  is  clear  that  some  of  the  older 
photographs  in  the  collection,  from 
the  1970s  and  1980s,  are  inferior  to 
those  taken  more  recently. 

There  is  an  understandable 
reticence  by  most  birders  towards 
investigating  birds’  nests  and  nesting 
behaviour  given  the  bad  publicity 
that  illegal  egg  collecting  has 
brought  to  the  subject.  This  DVD 
is  published  in  association  with  the 
British  Trust  for  Ornithology  (BTO) 
and  it  is  explained  in  much  detail  just 
how  many  useful  applications  long- 
term nest-monitoring  programmes 
have  for  conservation.  Also  that, 
provided  nest  recorders  adhere  to  the 
BTO’s  prescribed  code  of  conduct 
in  this  regard,  nest  recording  can 
be  undertaken  without  impacting 
negatively  the  breeding  success  of 
the  species  involved.  The  success 
of  any  nest-monitoring  programme 
is  dependent  on  finding  nests,  and 
finding  nests  is  a skill  that,  given 
the  pace  of  today’s  lifestyle,  fewer 
and  fewer  birders  are  inclined  to 
cultivate.  As  a result,  among  the  most 
challenging  and  rewarding  aspects  of 
field  ornithology  are  being  passed  by. 
This  DVD,  with  its  superb  collection 
of  images,  will  do  much  to  kindle 
such  an  interest  and  it  provides  an 
invaluable  reference  for  the  Palearctic 
species.  Perhaps  it  will  also  lead  to 
a similar  compilation  for  the  sub- 
Saharan  avifauna. 

Warwick  Tarboton 


Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  the 
World.  Vol.  14  Bush-shrikes  to 
Old  World  Sparrows 

Josep  del  Hoyo,  Andrew  Elliott  & David 
A.  Christie  (eds.),  2009.  Barcelona:  Lynx 
Edicions.  893  pp,  many  colour  plates  and 
photographs.  Hardback.  ISBN  978-84- 
96553-50-7.  UKE185. 

With  only  two  volumes  to  go, 
following  this  one,  how  the  editors 
have  managed  to  keep  to  such  a 
very  tight  production  schedule  is 
nothing  short  of  astonishing.  This 
volume  (and  the  next  one)  will  be 
of  particular  interest  to  African 
birders  as  it  contains  bushshrikes, 
helmetshrikes,  vangas,  drongos, 
crows,  starlings  and  Old  World 
sparrows,  although  there  are  several 
other  families,  mainly  Australasian 
endemics,  including  the  bowerbirds 
and  birds-of-paradise.  (Vol.  15 
will  include  weavers,  waxbills  and 
finches.) 

The  format  must  be  well  known 
to  just  about  everyone  by  now. 

For  each  family  a comprehensive 
essay  discusses  taxonomy,  ecology, 
behaviour,  conservation  and 
relationships  with  humans,  all 
accompanied  by  a series  of  usually 
stunning  photographs,  many  of 
which  involve  birds  engaged  in 
’interesting’  behaviour,  i.e.  they  are 
not  merely  portraits.  This  is  followed 
by  the  individual  species  accounts 
accompanied  by  a series  of  excellent 
plates  (by  several  artists).  These  are 
set  out  in  a simple  and  clear  format 
under  a series  of  main  headings. 

The  taxonomy  is  commendably 
up  to  date  and  treads  a reasonable 
course  between  ‘splitting’  and 
‘lumping’.  For  example,  it  is  noted 
that  Bulo  Burti  Bushshrike  Laniarius 
liberatus  is  now  thought  to  be  a 
colour  form  within  the  Tropical 
Boubou  L.  aethiopicus  complex,  but 
L.  erlangeri  (containing  ‘ liberatus ) 
and  L.  sublacteus  are  split,  while  L. 
major  is  not.  The  series  has,  almost 
inevitably,  been  ‘caught  out’  by 
some  advances  in  taxonomy  during 
the  course  of  its  publication.  For 
example,  several  Malagasy  endemics 
whose  affinities  have  been  debated 


for  many  years,  such  as  the  four 
species  of  Newtonia  and  Ward’s 
Flycatcher  Pseudobias  wardi,  were 
covered  as  warblers  or  flycatchers 
in  earlier  volumes.  These  are  now 
usually  considered  vangas  and  would 
therefore,  as  noted  in  the  relevant 
section,  be  better  placed  there. 

As  usual,  the  Foreword  takes 
the  form  of  an  essay  on  a topical 
subject,  this  time  the  history  and 
development  (past,  present  and 
future)  of  birding  by  Stephen 
Moss.  It  has  a global  perspective, 
with  sections  on  the  early  history, 
developments  through  the  20th 
century,  the  rise  of  citizen  science 
and  the  impact  of  amateurs  on 
scientific  research  and  conservation, 
as  well  as  the  economic  benefits  of 
birding  (which  is  being  extensively 
promoted  in  several  parts  of  Africa). 

Overall  the  series  is  superb. 
Although  quite  costly  to  an 
individual,  there  is  usually  a good 
pre-publication  offer.  I doubt  that 
such  a work  will  ever  be  repeated 
in  this  form  and  if  you  need  a 
comprehensive  review  of  the  world’s 
birds  then  there  is  no  other  choice. 

Peter  Lack 


Also  Received 

Conservation:  A Beginner’s 
Guide 

Paul  Jepson  & Richard  Ladle,  2010.  Oxford: 
Oneworld  Publications.  193  pp,  several 
black-and-white  photographs.  Softback. 
ISBN  978-1-85168-714-5.  UKE9.99. 

A short  introduction  to  many  aspects 
of  conservation  from  two  authors 
who  teach  a M.Sc.  course  on  the 
subject. 


256 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Reviews 


Letter  to  the  Editor 


On  the  birds  of  Omo  Forest 
Reserve,  south-western 
Nigeria 

In  their  paper  on  the  birds  of  Omo 
Forest  Reserve,  south-west  Nigeria, 
Olmos  & Turshak  (2009)  include  a 
photograph  (their  Fig.  4c)  of  a bird 
which  they  identify  as  Pale-breasted 
Illadopsis  Illadopsis  rufipennis.  The 
species  is  also  mentioned  briefly  in 
the  accompanying  text,  as  being  one 
that  was  readily  detected  by  voice, 
while  in  the  annexed  species  list  the 
only  illadopsises  mentioned  are  I. 
rufipennis  and  Brown  Illadopsis  /. 
fulvescens,  which  are  both  shown  as 
being  recorded  by  the  authors  and  as 
having  previously  been  reported  from 
Omo  by  Green  et  al.  (2007). 

While  not  seeking  to  call  into 
question  the  occurrence  of  I. 
rufipennis  in  Omo,  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  the  bird  in  the 
photograph  is  in  fact  Blackcap 
Illadopsis  /.  cleaveri  of  the  race 
marchanti , which  is  confined  to 
southern  Nigeria.  This  form  differs 
most  obviously  from  all  other 
subspecies  in  having  a grey,  not 
black,  crown  and  is  accordingly  less 
readily  identifiable  by  sight,  as  well 
as  being  less  commonly  illustrated. 
The  photograph,  although  taken 
from  below,  shows  part  of  the 
hindcrown,  where  some  evidence 
of  a contrasting  cap  can  be  seen, 
appearing  rather  darker  than  the  pale 
grey  ear-coverts.  Moreover,  the  bird 
has  cinnamon  breast-sides,  flanks  and 
undertail-coverts,  which  are  much 
warmer-toned  than  the  upperparts, 
and  pinkish-flesh  legs.  This 
combination  of  characters  points  to  I. 
c.  marchanti  rather  than  /.  rufipennis, 
as  the  accompanying  photographs 
(Figs.  1-2)  of  skins  in  the  Natural 
History  Museum  (NHM),  Tring, 
make  clear.  The  upper  specimen 
in  both  images  is  of  I.  c.  marchanti 
from  Haro  Forest  Reserve,  Ipake, 
south-west  Nigeria,  while  the  lower 


shows  nominate  I.  rufipennis  from 
Awjawja,  Lagos,  also  in  south-west 
Nigeria.  The  head  pattern,  leg  colour 
(even  in  these  specimens)  and,  in 
particular,  coloration  of  the  flanks,  all 
suggest  that  the  bird  in  Fabio  Olmos’ 
photograph  is  Blackcap  Illadopsis, 
not  Pale-breasted. 

This  being  the  case,  the  record  in 
fact  becomes  more  interesting  as  it 
appears  to  be  only  the  second  time 
that  I.  c.  marchanti  has  been  recorded 
in  south-west  Nigeria.  Indeed, 

Ilaro  Forest  Reserve  (06°53’N 
03°01’E)  is  the  only  previously 
known  locality  in  this  part  of  the 
country  (Elgood  1977),  where  /. 
c.  marchanti  was  trapped  by  Fry 
(1964)  and  reported  by  Elgood  et  al. 
(1994),  as  having  been  collected  by 
C.  H.  Fry,  something  to  which  the 
accompanying  photographs  attest. 
Oddly,  I.  cleaveri  is  not  mentioned 
from  Ilaro  by  Button  (1967),  who 
wrote  only  that  Fry  had  mist- 
netted  I.  rufipennis  and  /.  fulvescens 
(, moloneyanus ) there,  whereas  Fry 
( 1 964)  had  listed  I.  rufipennis  as 
merely  present  but  not  captured,  and 
made  no  mention  of  I.  fulvescens\ 
Some  at  least  of  this  confusion  may 
have  arisen  from  early  uncertainty 
as  to  the  identity  of  Fry’s  specimen, 
for,  as  can  be  seen  on  one  of  the 
labels,  visible  in  the  lateral  view,  the 
original  annotation  reads  ‘ Illadopsis 
sp.  indet.’,  with  'cleaveri  marchanti 
evidently  added  later. 

The  paper  by  Olmos  & Turshak 
also  includes  records  of  two  other 
species  which  demand  comment.  The 
first  is  that  of  Yellow-bellied  Wattle- 
eye  Dyaphorophyia  concreta.  The 
authors  report  ‘A  pair  with  at  least 
one  young  foraging  in  the  canopy... 
the  birds  had  vivid  yellow  underparts, 
including  the  throat,  typical  of  the 
subspecies graueri'  Two  things 
about  these  remarks  raise  concerns. 
The  first  is  that  this  species  is  a bird 
of  the  understorey,  not  the  canopy 


(Erard  1997,  Borrow  & Demey 
2001,  Louette  2006;  pers.  obs.) 
while,  secondly,  the  throat,  breast 
and  upper  sides  of  the  belly  of  female 
D.  concreta  graueri  are  chestnut 
(e.g.  Erard  1997).  Since  Olmos  & 
Turshak  imply  that  both  birds  of  the 
pair  were  all  yellow  this  would  appear 
to  eliminate  D.  concreta.  Given  also, 
as  the  authors  recognise,  that  their 
record  would  represent  the  first  of 
this  species  away  from  south-eastern 
Nigeria — the  nearest  known  locality 
is  a specimen  collected  by  Marchant 
at  Umuagwu,  05°20’N  06°53’E 
(Marchant  1953) — we  believe  there 
is  sufficient  doubt  for  it  not  to  be 
acceptable. 

The  other  potentially  contentious 
record  is  that  of  Square-tailed 
Drongo  Dicrurus  ludwigii.  Olmos 
& Turshak  report  three  species  of 
drongo  from  Omo:  Velvet-mantled 
D.  modestus , Shining  D.  atripennis 
and  Square-tailed.  Of  the  last,  they 
state  that  ‘smaller  drongos  with 
tails  lacking  obvious  notches  and  a 
purple-blue  sheen  were  assigned  to 
this  species’  noting  that  ‘singles  and 
pairs  associated  with  mixed-species 
flocks. 

We  believe  that  D.  atripennis  and 
D.  ludwigii  have  been  much  confused 
in  the  past  and  indeed  continue 
to  be;  we  are,  however,  unaware 
of  any  confirmed  co-occurrences 
of  these  two  species  and  consider 
that  all  such  published  records  to 
the  contrary  require  review.  In  our 
experience,  D.  atripennis  alone  occurs 
in  primary  and  old  secondary  forest 
at  low  to  mid  altitudes  while,  in 
areas  of  broad  sympatry,  D.  ludwigii 
is  confined  to  forest  patches  in 
the  forest-savanna  transition  zone, 
rich  gallery  forest  of  the  Sudanian 
zone  and  areas  of  montane  forest  in 
forest  / grassland  mosaics  (e.g.  on 
the  Obudu  plateau,  Nigeria:  pers. 
obs.).  For  example,  records  of  D. 
ludwigii  from  Makokou,  Gabon,  by 


Letter  to  the  Editor 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) -257 


Figures  1-2.  Specimens  of  Blackcap 
Illadopsis  Illadopsis  cleaveri  marchanti 
(upper)  and  Pale-breasted  Illadopsis 
I.  mfipennis  rufipennis  (lower)  from 
Nigeria  (L.  D.  C.  Fishpool  © Natural 
History  Museum,  Tring) 

Specimens  de  l’Akalat  a tete  noire 
Illadopsis  cleaveri  marchanti  (en  haut) 
et  de  l’Akalat  a poitrine  blanche  I. 
rufipennis  rufipennis  (en  bas)  provenant 
du  Nigeria  (L.  D.  C.  Fishpool  © 
Natural  History  Museum,  Tring 


Figure  3.  Specimens  of  Square-tailed  Drongo  Dicrurus  ludwigii  (three  left-hand  birds)  and  Shining  Drongo  D.  atripennis 
(three  right-hand  birds)  from  Nigeria.  The  label  data  are  explicit  that  two  of  the  D.  ludwigii  specimens  were  collected  from 
‘a  small  wood  in  savanna  [or  orchard  bush]  country’  while  all  three  D.  atripennis  were  taken  'in  the  primary  forest’  (L.  D.  C. 
Fishpool  © Natural  History  Museum,  Tring) 

Specimens  du  Drongo  de  Ludwig  Dicrurus  ludwigii  (les  trois  oiseaux  de  gauche)  et  du  Drongo  de  foret  D.  atripennis  (les  trois 
oiseaux  de  droite)  provenant  du  Nigeria.  Le  texte  sur  les  etiquettes  de  recolte  explique  clairement  que  deux  de  ces  D.  ludwigii 
proviennent  d’une  petite  foret  seche  en  savane  boisee  tandis  que  les  trois  specimens  de  D.  atripennis  ont  ete  obtenus  dans  la 
foret  primaire  ombrophile  (L.  D.  C.  Fishpool  © Natural  History  Museum,  Tring) 


Brosset  & Erard  (1986)  have  not 
stood  up  to  recent  scrutiny.  Repeated 
subsequent  visits  to  this  locality 
have  revealed  only  D.  atripennis  (N. 
Borrow  in  litt.  to  FD-L  2009)  while 
the  recording  ascribed  to  D.  ludwigii 
on  Chappuis  (2000)  from  north-east 
Gabon  is  in  fact  of  D.  atripennis 
(FDL;  see  also  Dowsett-Lemaire  & 
Dowsett  1998:  7).  Attention  may 
also  be  drawn  to  Bowden  (2001) 
who  reports  D.  atripennis  and  D. 
ludwigii  as  occurring  together  on 
Mount  Kupe,  Cameroon.  Our 
experience  of  Kupe  and  of  the  forests 
of  neighbouring  mountains  indicates 
only  D.  atripennis  to  be  present 


(Dowsett-Lemaire  & Dowsett  1999; 
pers.  obs.). 

We  agree  with  Borrow  & Demey 
(2001)  that  detecting  and  assessing 
the  amount  of  gloss  on  the  plumage 
of  D.  atripennis  in  the  gloom  of  the 
forest  interior  can  be  very  difficult. 
Moreover,  while  the  tail  can  appear 
forked  in  some  D.  atripennis , in 
others  it  may  be  little  or  no  more 
notched  than  it  is  in  D.  ludwigii. 
These  points  are  apparent  in  the 
accompanying  photograph  (Fig.  3)  of 
Nigerian  specimens  of  D.  atripennis 
(the  three  right-hand  skins)  and 
D.  ludwigii  in  NHM.  This  shows 
that  there  is  variation  in  the  tail 
shape  of  D.  atripennis,  from  almost 


un-notched  (specimen  third  from 
right)  to  shallowly  forked  (far  right); 
that  the  tail  shape  of  D.  atripennis 
can  approach  that  of  D.  ludwigii  ( cfi. , 
e.g.,  D.  atripennis  second  from  right 
with  that  of  the  D.  ludwigii  specimen 
third  from  left)  and  that  tail  length 
differences  between  the  two  species 
are  not  always  obvious.  Although 
the  process  of  specimen  preparation 
may  have  had  some  effect  here,  these 
comparisons  are  in  line  with  our  field 
experience  of  the  two  species  in  the 
region.  Thus,  tail  notches  measured 
in  D.  atripennis  mist-netted  in  south- 
west Cameroon  varied  from  3 to 
1 1 mm  in  depth;  a seventh  bird, 
in  moult,  had  a square  tail  because 


258  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Letter  to  the  Editor 


the  outer  feathers  were  still  growing, 
(RJD).  In  Lobeke  (south  -east 
Cameroon)  and  northern  Congo- 
Brazzaville  the  tail  of  atripennis  is 
more  deeply  forked  (FDL,  RJD), 
although  this  was  not  measured  in 
the  one  bird  mist-netted. 

Furthermore,  the  photograph  also 
illustrates  the  challenge  in  the  field — 
or,  more  precisely,  the  forest — of 
discriminating  the  differences 
between  them  in  overall  size, 
particularly  since  they  are  not  to  be 
seen  together.  Lastly,  the  differences 
in  the  amount  and  intensity  of  gloss 
can  be  seen  to  be  minor,  particularly 
on  the  ventral  surfaces;  the  contrast  is 
somewhat  greater  dorsally. 

If  we  are  correct  in  our  view  of 
the  ecological  differences  of  these 
two  species,  which  result  in  their 
mutual  exclusion,  a brief  inspection 
of  the  literature  suggests  that  Olmos 
& Turshak  would  not  be  alone 
in  confusing  these  two  species.  It 
would  also  seem  to  indicate  that  a 
full  re-analysis  of  their  respective 
distributions  across  the  range  of  D. 
atripennis  is  required. 

Acknowledgement 

LDCF  thanks  Dr  Robert  Prys-Jones 
of  the  Natural  History  Museum, 
Tring,  for  access  to  skins. 

References 

Borrow,  N.  & Demey,  R.  2001. 

Birds  of  Western  Africa.  London, 

UK:  Christopher  Helm. 


Bowden,  C.  G.  R.  2001.  The  birds 
ol  Mount  Kupe,  southwest 
Cameroon.  Malimbus  23:  1 3 — 44. 

Brosset,  A.  & Erard,  C.  1986.  Les 
Oiseaux  des  Regions  forestieres  du 
Nord-est  du  Gabon.  Vol.  1.  Paris: 
Societe  Nationale  de  Protection  de 
la  Nature. 

Button,  J.  A.  1967.  The  birds  of  Haro 
(II,  part  A).  Bull.  Niger.  Orn.  Soc. 
4(15):  2-11. 

Chappuis,  C.  2000.  African  Bird 
Sounds:  Birds  of  North,  West  and 
Central  Africa  and  Neighbouring 
Atlantic  Islands.  1 5 CDs.  Paris: 
Societe  d’Etudes  Ornithologiques 
de  France  & London,  UK:  British 
Library. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  & Dowsett,  R. 

J.  1998.  Preliminary  survey  of  the 
fauna  (in  particular  the  avifauna) 
of  the  reserves  of  Boumba-Bek 
and  Nki,  south-eastern  Cameroon. 
Dowsett-Lemaire  Misc.  Rep. 
no.  10,  prepared  for  WWF- 
Cameroon. 

Dowsett-Lemaire,  F.  &:  Dowsett, 

R.  J.  1999.  Survey  of  birds  and 
amphibians  on  Mt  Manenguba. 

Mt  Nlonako,  north  Bakossi 
and  around  Kupe  in  1998-99. 
Unpubl.  rep.  to  WWF-Cameroon. 

Elgood,  J.  H.  1977.  Forest  birds 
of  southwest  Nigeria.  Ibis  119: 
462-480. 

Elgood,  J.  H.,  Heigham,  J.  B., 

Moore,  A.  M.,  Nason,  A.  M., 
Sharland,  R.  E.  & Skinner,  N. 

J.  1994.  The  Birds  of  Nigeria:  An 
Annotated  Check-list.  BOU  Check- 


list No.  4.  Second  edn.  Tring: 
British  Ornithologists’  Union. 
Erard,  C.  1997.  Dyaphorophyia  con- 
creta.  In  Urban,  E.,  Fry,  C.  H.  & 
Keith,  S.  (eds.)  The  Birds  of  Africa. 
Vol.  5.  London,  UK:  Academic 
Press. 

Fry,  C.  H.  1964.  Shy  or  rare  forest 
birds  at  Ilaro:  the  value  of  mist- 
netting.  Bull.  Niger.  Orn.  Soc. 

1(1):  6-7. 

Green,  A.  A.,  Hall,  P.  & Leventis,  A. 
P.  2007.  Avifauna  of  Omo  Forest 
Reserve,  SW  Nigeria.  Malimbus 
29:  16-30. 

Louette,  M.  2006.  Family 

Platysteiridae  (batises  and  wattle- 
eyes).  In  del  Hoyo,  J.,  Elliott,  A. 

& Christie,  D.  A.  (eds.)  Handbook 
of  the  Birds  of  the  World.  Vol.  11. 
Barcelona:  Lynx  Edicions. 
Marchant,  S.  1953.  Notes  on  the 
birds  of  southeastern  Nigeria.  Ibis 
95:  38-69. 

Olmos,  F.  &t  Turshak,  L.  G.  2009. 

A survey  of  birds  in  Omo  Forest 
Reserve,  south-western  Nigeria. 
Bull.  ABC  16:  184-196. 

L.  D.  C.  Fishpool,  BirdLife 
International,  Wellbrook  Court,  Girton 
Road,  Cambridge  CB3  0NA,  UK. 
E-mail:  lincoln.fishpool@birdlife.  org 

F.  Dowsett-Lemaire  & R.  J.  Dowsett, 
Le  Pouget,  Sumene  30440,  France. 
E-mail:  dowsett@aol.com 


Letter  to  the  Editor 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 259 


ABACUS  AFRICAN  VACATIONS 


The  best  birding  safaris  in  East  Africa 
with  an  ordinary  choice  of  the  most  threatened  and  endangered 
bird  species  in  East  Africa.  Our  tour  destinations  are  Uganda, 
Kenya,  Rwanda,  and  Tanzania.  Check 

http://www.abacusvacations.com  for  our  birding  tours. 


To  learn  more  about  our  birding  safaris  please  contact; 

+ 256312261930,  +256772  331332  or  +256753  331332 
Uganda  P.  O.  Box  34944  Kampala  Uganda. 


♦ Private,  Guided  Birding  and  Big  Game  Safaris 
to  renown  and  off-the-beaten  path  locations 

♦ Flexible,  tailor-made  Programs  to  Suit  YOUR 

interests,  preferences  and  budget 

♦ Programs  may  incorporate  Kilimanjaro  treks, 
Chimp  & Gorilla  tracking,  Zanzibar  beach  & 

diving  holidays,  and  so  much  more... 


Contact:  Aim  4 Africa  Ltd 
www.aim4africa.com 
0845  408  4541 
0114  255  2533 


Aim  for  the  Heart  of  Africa 
Ornithological  Paradise 

¥ UGANDA  ¥ KENYA  ¥ TANZANIA  ¥ RWANDA  ¥ 


260  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


s arus  Bird  tours 


Kenya:  Value  tour  for  19  days  covering  all  the 
major  habitats  with  Ben  Mugambi 

May  2011 

Kenya,  Uganda,  Tanzania  & Rwanda:  31- 

day  Megatour  aiming  for  900  species  with 
Brian  Finch 

Feb  2011 

Also:Ghana;  Madagascar;  Cameroon; 
Tanzania,  Uganda;  Rwanda  and  more. 


12  Walton  Drive , Bury,  BL9  5JU,  UK 
Tel:  +44  (0)161  761  7279  Fax:  +44  1(0)61  797  6243 
E-mail:  nigel@sarusbirdtours.  co.  uk 

www.sarusbirdtours.co.uk 


Rockjumper  Birding  Tours 


We  offer  the  most  comprehensive  selection  of 
African  birding  tours,  solid  value  for  money  and  a long-established  reputation. 

Tel:  +27  33  394  0225  / Fax:  +27  88  033  394  0225  / Email:  info@rockjumper.co.za 
PO  Box  13972,  Cascades,  3202,  South  Africa 

www.rockjumper.co.za 


Rockjumper  Birding  Tours 

Worldwide  Birding  Adventures 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 261 


The  very  best  of 
Worldwide  Birding 

76  tours  - our  African  venues  include : 

Botswana  Gambia  Ghana  Kenya 
Namibia  South  Africa  Uganda 


Friendly  Professional  Leaders 
Small  Groups 


Worldwide  Birding...  with 


Avian  Adventures 


T h 


Natural  Leaders 


49  Sandy  Road  • Norton  • Stourbridge  • DY8  3AJ 

www.avianadventures.co.uk 

avianadventures@btinternet.com 


01384  372013 


J 

Professionally  lead  tours  by  Ghana's  best  guides  with 

Ashanti  African  Tours 


www.ashantiafricantours.com 

info@ashantiafricantours.com 

Tel:  Ghana  +233  (0)  5 1 81151  / UK  +44  (0)  8707662283 


262  - Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


WSunbird 

‘The  best  of  bird\yAtching  tours’ 

With  30  years  experience  and  tours 
ranging  from  Kenya  to  Ghana  and 
Ethiopia  to  South  Africa,  Sunbird  is 
the  best  choice  for  your  African 

, birding  holiday. 

■■■;«  r,  ' 

Visit  www.sanbirdtours.co.uk  for 

kMii  details  of  all  our  tours  in  Africa  and 

‘ rWt  beyond. 

* -y£ 


Email:  sunbird@sunbirdtours.co.uk 
or  call  us  on  01 767  262522 

Sunbird  26B  The  Market  Square 
Potton,  Sandy,  Bedfordshire  /jrW 
SG192NP 


BEN’S  ECOLOGICAL  SAFARIS 


We  offer  a less  hectic,  true  birding  vacations,  great  for  beginners  or  avid  birders, 
interested  in  not  only  identifying  the  birds,  but  also  their  ecology  and  behavior. 
Whether  it's  birding,  walking,  wildlife  viewing,  photography  or  natural  history,  it's 
a mix  that  makes  us  the  perfect  outfitter  for  your  anticipated  holiday. 


for  PROFESSIONAL  BIRD  WATCHING  & WILDLIFE  HCJTlDAYS  IN  EAST  AFRICA 
\ ^ ^ Please  call,  come  or  visit  our  website 

r * info@bensecologicalsafaris.com  / www.bensecologicalsafaris.com 

* Tel  : +254203755290/1  Cell : +254722861072  / +254734873923 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  -263 


10 

O 

O 


WildSounds 


WSTFUI  Wildlife  Books,  Audio  A Multioiodia  Guidos 


COLLINS 

BIRD 

Gt^DE 


IfirMOM  i V 'Mi'll  I I 

GUI  OF  TO  TMf  BIRDS 

Of  RRlUt.N  AND  IKHAM) 


Collins  Bird  Guide  - 2nd  edition 

Svensson,  Mullarney  & Zetterstrom 
The  most  complete  field  guide  to  the  birds  of 
Britain,  Europe,  North  Africa,  most  of  the  Middle 
East,  the  Canaries  & Madeira.  Treats  Pharoah 
Eagle  Owl,  Atlas  Flycatcher,  Seebohm's  & 
Magreb  Wheatears  all  as  separate  species. 

□ Hardback  £25430  £1  9.99 

□ Softback  £47-r99  £13.99 


Birds  of  the  Horn  of  Africa 

Nigel  Redman,  John  Fanshawe 
& Terry  Stevenson 

Helm  Field  Guide  to  the  birds  of  Ethiopia, 
Eritrea,  Djibouti,  Somalia  and  Socotra. 

□ Softback  £2999  £23.99 


Nightjars 


Nightjars  of  the  World 

Nigel  Cleere 

Frogmouths,  Potoos,  Oilbird  and  Owlet-nightjars. 
I 00  species  of  nightjars  and  nighthawks,  1 7 
frogmouths,  7 potoos,  Oilbird  and  10  owlet- 
nightjars  illustrated  in  over  570  high  quality 
photos. 

□ Hardback  £45430  £39.95 


of  the  World  4 
6'-  \ 


Safari  Sketchbook 

Martin  Woodcock 

Artwork  by  one  of  our  favourite  artists 
Martin  delights  us  not  only  with  his 
fantastic  paintings  but  also  his 
entertaining  and  evocative  prose. 

□ Hardback  £45£TO  £39.99 


ADVANCED 
BIRD  ID  GUIDE 

in 


Advanced  Bird  ID  Guide 

Nils  van  Duivendijk 

Describes  every  plumage  of  all  1 300  species 
and  sub-species  recorded  in  Britain,  Europe, 
North  Africa  and  the  Middle  East. 

□ Softback  £4-999  £1 2.99 


Sounds  of  Zambian  Wildlife 

Bob  Stjemstedt 

An  MP3  DVD  featuring  the  sounds  of  574  Zambian  bird 
20  Zambian  mammals  & 32  frogs. 

□ £299 9 £19.99  (£17.01) 


The  Endemic  Birds  of  Madagascar  - Guy  Eldridge 
A DVD  set  featuring  1 30  Malagasy  endemic  species. 

□ £4999  £39.99  (£34.03) 


Bird  Migration 

Ian  Newton 

New  Naturalist  1 13.  Investigates  the  fascinating 
phenomenon  of  bird  migration,  examining  the 
types  of  bird  movements,  study  methods  and  the 
main  migration  routes. 

□ Hardback  £50430  £37.99 

□ Softback  £30430  £21.99 


Reviewed 


Where  to  watch  birds  in  Ethiopia 

Spottiswoode,  Gabremichael  & Francis 
A comprehensive  site  guide  to  the  50 
best  birding  sites. 

□ Softback  £4999  £16.99 


African  Bird  Sounds  (Vols  1 & 2) 

Claude  Chappuis  & The  British  Library 
Out  of  a total  of  1 550  regular  species  in  the  area, 

1 466  are  presented  (95%  of  the  total)  on  1 5 CDs. 

□ Vo  I 1&2  £1995 0 £1  54.99  (£131 .91) 

□ Vol  1 (North  West  Africa  & Canary  Islands)  £64750  £56.99  (£4£ 
Ed  Vol  2 (West  & Central  Africa  - south  to  Zaire) 

£42995  £117.99  (£100.42) 


Other  best  buys 


Field  Guide  to  Birds  of  Gambia  & Senegal  (Barlow  et  al). 


Also: 

Birding  Ethiopia 

□ Softback  £2999  £27.99 
Complete  Photo  Field  Guide  Birds  of 
Southern  Africa 

□ Softback  £34t99  £21.99 


Bird  Sounds  of  Madagascar  (Hawkins  & Ranft). 


Southern  African  Bird  Sounds  (Gibbon) 


Hardback 

£4090 

£33.69 

Softback 

£24999 

£21.99 

CD 

£4999 

£11.99 

(i 

Softback 

£47:99 

£13.99 

CD 

,£$499 

£8.99 

Softback 

£8.99 

Softback 

£44499 

£16.99 

3 DVD  set 

£74497 

£49.99 

(1 

6 CD  set 

£5999 

£49.99 

(i 

6 cassette  set 

£5995 

£42.95 

(! 

Every  sale  helps  the  African  Bird  Club 


. Payment 
I Prices  in 


WildSounds  : Birdlife  International  Species  Champion  for  the  Spoon-billed  Sandpiper. 

Whilst  the  little  chap  alongside  is  not  normally  found  in  Africa,  we  think  you'll  agree  that 
saving  his  species  is  vitally  important,  which  is  why  - in  addition  to  the  support  we  give  to 
the  African  Bird  Club  - WildSounds  is  proud  to  support  the  Spoon-billed  Sandpiper. 

WildSounds, 

Dept.  ABC 
Cross  Street 
Salthouse,  Norfolk 
NR25  7XH 
United  Kingdom 
by  cheque,  postal  order  or  credit  card.  POSTFREE  only  within  the  UK. 

brackets  indicate  the  price  outside  the  European  Union.  For  terms  & conditions,  please  visit  our  web-site:  www.wildsounds.com 


0 


Call  (UK)  +44  (0)1263  741100 


www.wildsounds.com/abc 


www.birdquest.  co.  uk 

Birdquest  - the  natural  choice  in  Africa 

with  unrivalled  experience > small  group  ■ j 
sizes  and  remarkable  leaders! 

Morocco  • Egypt  • Gambia  • Senegal  • Ivory  Coast  • Cameroon  • Gabon 
Sao  Tome  & Principe  • Ethiopia  • Kenya  • Uganda  • Tanzania  • Rwanda  • Malawi 
Zambia  • Angola  • Namibia  • Botswana  • Zimbabwe  • Sozrf/i  Africa  • Madagascar 

All  included  in  our  extensive  programme  of  more  than  150  tours  worldwide! 

To  learn  more  about  'The  Ultimate  in  Birding',  please  visit  our 
if  website.  Alternatively  call  us  on  +44  (0)1254  826317 

or  E-mail:  birders@birdquest.co.uk 


■ 


Unique  and  innovative  itineraries 
Smaller  groups  with  professional  and  local  guides 

No  hidden  extras 


010 


Oil  I I C7  L-,  I U fl  CT  U W / O 




Birdwatching  Breaks,  Cygnus  House,  Gordons  Mill,  Balblair,  Ross-shire  IV7  8LQ 


Tel:  01381  610495 


, www.birdwatchingbreaks.com 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 265 


Greentours  Natural  History  Holidays 


Expertly  led  small  group  tours  covering  the  full  range  of  fauna  and  flora 
from  Desert  Wild  Cats  in  the  Sahara  to  Narcissi  in  the  Rif  Mountains. 


Ghana  - a two  week  January  tour  focussing  on  the  rich  mammal  and  bird 
fauna  of  Kakum  and  Mole  and  the  amazing  butterflies  of  Bobiri. 

Mauritania  - March  and  November  tours  to  the  golden  sands  of  the 
Sahara  at  Chinguetti,  the  Adrar  Mountains,  and  the  Banc  dAguin. 

Morocco  - March  in  Oued  Massa  and  the  southern  desert,  October  for 
the  autumn  bulbs  of  the  Rif  and  great  birding  at  Larache  and  Asileh. 

Gabon  - three  weeks  in  August  for  Gorillas,  Mandrills  and  great  birding  at 
Lope,  Mikongo  and  Loangu  - Sao  Tome  & Principe  extension. 

Namibia  - November  for  birds  and  mammals  in  superb  landscapes. 


forthcoming  tours  to  Cabo  Verde  Islands  and  Socotra 


Ct'U&bfoMVl 

“ NATURAL  HISTORY  HOLIDAYS 


Tel/Fax:  01298  83563 

Email:  enquiries@greentours.co.uk  Web:  vvwvv.greentours.co.uk 


Greentours,  Leigh  Cottage.  Gauledge  Lane,  Longnor,  Buxton,  Derbyshire  SK17  OPA 


Lawson’s  Birding 
and 

Wildlife  Tours 

V ou’ii  want  to  return  to  Africa  with 
us  time  and  time  again! 

• Tailor-made  birding  and  w ildlife  tours  in  Southern  Africa 

O 

• Set-departures  with  superb  guides  and  itineraries 

• Self-drive  tours:  let  us  do  all  the  planning  for  you 

• We  have  over  1 8 years  of  experience 
• Contact  us  today  for  an  awesome  holiday: 

info@J awsons.co.za;  www. la wson s.co.za 


^tljaw^on^ 


266  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


Phenomenal  World  Birding 

Our  2010/201 1 African  tour  destinations: 


South  Africa 

Many  Departures 

Ethiopia 

January 

Botswana 

February 

November 

Cameroon 

March 

Namibia 

March 

September 

Zambia 

June 

November 

Tanzania 

June 


Mozambique 

July 

December 

Uganda 

July 

Rwanda 

July 

Gabon 

August 

Madagascar 


Owls  of  the  World  i 

Endemics  of  southern 
Africa  Mega-tours 

Disabled  Birders'  Tours 
South  Africa  & Uganda 

Custom-made  & 
scouting  trips 


October 

Angola  Difficult  mammal  trips 
October  aardvark,  small  big  cats 
Malawi 

November  Piarrots  of  Africa 
Ghana 

December 


Photographs  c : Burchett's  Courser.  Herero  Chat  © Martin  Benadie;  Butt-spotted  Flufftail.  White-chested  Alethe.  Red- 
Stvoated  Wh/neck  Bohm's  Bee  eater  © Huah  Chittenden  & Narina  Troaon  © Adrian  Binns. 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 267 


Watamu  is  a hotspot  for  East  African  coastal  birds 

Over  450  species  of  birds  have  been  recorded  within  a radius  of  40  km. 

Specialities  include  the  nearendemic  Sokoke  Scops  Owl  (Africa's  smallest  owl), 
Clarke 'sWeaver  (endemic  to  Arabuko-Sokoke  Forest),  the  stunning  Carmine 
Bee-eater,  Crab-plover  and  African  Pygmy  Goose.  For  one-birder  families,  a great 
advantage  of  birding  at  Turtle  Bay  Beach  Club  is  that  birders  can  be  assured  that 
the  family  will  also  have  a wonderful  holiday  being  fully  entertained  at  the  hotel. 

Tel  +44(0)1372  469818 
www.turtlebay.co.ke 


TRAVELERS' 

CHOICE' 


2010 


Recognised  by  FTO,  ANVR, 
FAR,  ABTO&  ASTOI 


Silver 


.Award  Winner 


fyfariz  flonuMLe  BiUr/aicbwy  Alven  fare 


268  -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


BIRDING  TOURS  Q 

IN  AFRICA  & WORLDWIDE 


• Exclusive,  Scheduled 
and  Custom  Tours 

• Self  drive  tours: 
we  do  all  the  planning  for  you 

• Expert  tour  leaders 

• Personal  service 

0844  415  0155 

info@closeencounters. travel  www.closeencounterstravel.com 

Your  dreams,  your  travel,  our  responsibility 


CLOSE 

ENCOUNTERS 

BESPOKE  TRAVEL 


~ ~ 


Calluna  Books 

Moor  Edge  • 2 Bere  Road 
Wareham  • Dorset  • BH20  4DD 
01929  552560 

enquiries@callunabooks.co.uk 

Specialists  in  out-of-print 
NATURAL  HISTORY  BOOKS 

Books  bough  t and  sold 


www.  cal/unabooks.  co.  uk 

Check  out  our  website  for  our  current 
stock  list  or  contact  us  for  a copy  of 
our  latest  catalogue 


2500  titles  in  stock  - birds,  flora, 
invertebrates  and  general  natural 
history  covering  the  UK  and  worldwide, 
including  150+  African  related  titles 


Your  wants  list  welcomed  - we  are 
happy  to  search  for  those  elusive 
titles  missing  from  your  collection 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 269 


ORNITHOLIDAYS 
TO  AFRICA 


Send  for  our  brochure  detailing  over 
70  tours  including  holidays  to  Gabon, 
Botswana,  Namibia,  South  Africa, 
Kenya,  Tanzania,  Uganda,  Egypt, 
Seychelles  and  Madagascar. 


29  Straight  Mile  Romsey 
Hampshire  S051  9BB 
01794  519445 

www.ornitholidays.co.uk 


Naturetrek 

Don’t  miss  our  2010  bargain  birding  selection  X. 


9 days -£2,495 

9 to  13  days -from  £1,595 

9 days- £1,895 

12  days -£2,395 

12  or  13  days -£2,995 

10  days- £1,695 

10  days- £1,895 

10  days- £1,895 

/ 

10  or  12  days -from  £1,595 

9 days- £1,895 

10  days- £1,895 

10  days- £1,795 

10  days -£2,395 

12  days- £1,595 

10  days -from  £1,395 

10  days- £1,895 

10  days- £1,995 

9 days- £1,995 

10  days- £1,995 

9 days- £1,795 

10  day- £1,695 

10  days -from  £2,195 

10  to  12  days -from  £1,645 

9 days -from  £1,695 

v rJP  1 

12  days -£2,595 

9-16  days -from  £1,395 

9 days -from  £1,795 

9 days -from  £1,895 

V-< 

Visit  Phone 

NATURETREK.CO.UK  01962  733051 


M) 

HOLIDAYS  WITH  V5, 


270 -Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010) 


Advertisement 


ECOLOGY 


Worldwide  expertise  in  ecological 
assessment  for  planning  and 
development  issues 

Professional  guidance  on  ecotourism, 
eco-lodge  design  and  wildlife  tours 

Specialists  in  Madagascar  and  East 
Africa 

Experienced  tour  leaders  available 
www.mkaecology.co.uk 


The  Holt,  5 The  Sidings,  Shepreth,  Herts,  SG8  6PZ 
Telephone:  01763  262211 
Email:  info@mkaecology.co.uk 


Limosa 


THE  ASS0CIA1 
OF  iNDEPENOI 
TOUR  OPERAf 


2 4 Years  of  Birding  Tours  Worldwide 

• Comprehensive  programme  selected  from 
over  150  top  flight  birding  tours  and  cruises 

• Expertly  led,  small  group  tours...  including 
Morocco,  Gambia,  Ghana,  Gabon,  Tanzania, 
Uganda,  Namibia,  South  Africa  and  Madagascar 

• See  our  website  for  Tour  Itineraries,  Bird  Lists, 
Trip  Reports,  News  and  our  Gallery  of  photos 
taken  on  tour  - like  this  fabulous  Short-legged 
Ground-roller  on  our  2008  Madagascar  tour 

For  our  latest  Brochure:  01263  578*43 

www.Umosaholidays.co.uk 

Limosa,  Suffield  House,  Northrepps,  Norfolk  NR27  oLZ 
email:  info@limosaholidays.co.uk 


Advertisement 


Bull  ABC  Vol  17  No  2 (2010)  - 271 


BIRD,  BIG  CATS,  WHALE  AND  DOLPHIN  WATCHING  HOLIDAYS 
PLUS  THE  BEST  CHOICE  OF  WILDLIFE  CRUISES  2009-2010 


Notes  for  Contributors 


The  ABC  welcomes  original  contributions  on 
all  aspects  of  the  birds  of  Africa,  here  defined 
as  the  area  covered  by  Collar,  N.J.  & Stuart, 
S.N.  1985.  Threatened  Birds  of  Africa  and 
Related  Islands:  The  ICBP/IUCN  Red  Data 
Book.  Cambridge,  UK:  International  Council 
for  Bird  Preservation,  namely  continental 
Africa,  Indian  Ocean  islands  west  of  80°E, 
e.g.  Madagascar,  the  Mascarene  Islands  and 
Socotra;  Atlantic  Ocean  islands  on  or  east 
of  the  mid-Atlantic  ridge,  e.g.  the  Tristan  da 
Cunha  group,  the  Azores  and  the  Canaries. 

Contributions  will  be  accepted  subject 
to  editing  and  refereeing  by  independent 
reviewers,  where  appropriate.  The  Editorial 
Team  will  be  happy  to  advise  authors  on 
the  acceptability  of  material  at  draft  stage 
if  desired. 

Submissions 

Two  hard  (printed)  copies  should  be  sent 
unless  submitting  by  e-mail  (preferred)  to 
the  editor's  address  on  the  inside  front  cover. 
Typewritten  manuscripts  should  be  double- 
spaced, on  one  side  of  the  paper  only,  with 
wide  margins  all  round.  All  submissions  are 
acknowledged. 

Contributions  are  accepted  in  English 
or  French:  French  summaries  are  required 


for  all  papers  published  in  English,  and  vice 
versa.  Those  submitting  papers  should  supply 
a summary  for  translation  into  English,  or 
French,  as  appropriate. 

If  you  submit  your  contribution  on  CD 
or  floppy  disk,  please  state  computer  (e.g. 
IBM  compatible  PC,  Macintosh)  and  word- 
processing package  (e.g.  Word,  WordPerfect) 
used. 

When  sending  your  contribution  on 
disk,  please  do  not  key  anything  in  ALL 
CAPS  (i.e.  with  the  CAPS  LOCK  key 
depressed)  unless  the  combination  always 
occurs  in  that  form  (e.g.  ‘USA’).  Do  not  use 
the  carriage  return  key  at  the  end  of  lines, 
and  do  not  right  justify  the  margins.  When 
formatting  tables  use  one  tab,  and  not  spaces, 
between  each  column.  Unless  a sketch  map 
is  provided  as  part  of  the  article,  the  names 
of  places  should  follow  those  on  standard  or 
readily  available  maps  (preferably  a recent 
edition  of  The  Times  Atlas  of  the  World). 

Preferred  names 

Given  the  current  instability  over  worldwide 
lists  of  bird  names,  authors  are  requested  to 
follow  those  used  in  The  Birds  of  Africa  Vols. 
1-7.  The  African  Bird  Club  has  recently  pub- 
lished (www.africanbirdclub.org/resources/ 


checklist.html)  a checklist  of  birds  in  its 
region.  This  is  based  on  Birds  of  Africa  but 
incorporates  more  recent  revisions  where 
appropriate.  It  includes  preferred  scientific, 
English  and  French  names,  as  well  as  races 
and  alternatives  used  by  publications  widely 
used  in  Africa.  For  bird  names  this  list  should 
be  used  or  at  least  the  preferred  name  used 
there  should  be  given  as  an  alternative.  For 
non -Birds  of  Africa  species  (e.g.  from  the 
Malagasy  region)  use  Dowsett  & Focbes- 
Watson  (1993).  Deviation  from  such  works 
should  be  noted  and  the  reasons  given.  The 
Editorial  Team  will  keep  abreast  of  changes 
in  nomenclature  and  when  an  agreed  list 
of  African  names  is  available,  will  consider 
switching  to  follow  it. 

Style 

Authors  are  requested  to  follow  conventions 
used  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  African  Bird  Club 
and  to  refer  to  a recent  issue  for  guidance.  A 
detailed  style  guide  can  be  obtained,  either 
electronically  or  as  a hard  copy,  on  request 
from  the  Managing  Editor. 


Typesetting  and  layout  by  Alcedo  Publishing,  Arizona,  USA  • e-mail  engli@egreenworks.us 
Colour  repro  &t  print  production  by  Crowes  of  Norwich,  UK  • FSC  accredited 
• tel  +44  (0)1603  403-349  • e-mail  graphics@crowes.co.uk 


Mixed  Sources 

Product  group  from  well-managed 
forests  and  other  controlled  sources 


0 1996  Forest  Stewardship  Council 


Ascension  Island:  John  Hughes,  The  Old  Shop,  High 
Street,  Shipton  Bellinger,  Hampshire  SP9  7UE,  UK. 
E-mail:  rasuk@btconnect.com. 

Angola:  Pedro  de  Franca  Doria  vaz  Pinto,  Rua  Helder 
Neto  12,  7‘A;  Luanda.  E-mail:  pvpinto@clix.pt. 
Australia:  K.  David  Bishop,  PO  Box  1234,  Armidale, 
NSW  2330.  E-mail:  kdbishop@ozemail.com.au. 
Austria:  Graham  Tebb,  Graf  Starhemberggasse  20/14, 
1040  Vienna.  E-mail:  tcbb@fwf.ac.at. 

Belgium:  Jan  Goossens,  Vruntebaan  18,  2520 
Emblem.  Tel/fax:  +32  3 488  13  71.  E-mail:  jan. 
goossens5@pandora.be. 

Botswana:  Chris  Brewster,  PO  Box  26292,  Gaborone. 
E-mail:  cbrewster@botsnet.bw. 

Cameroon:  DrTaku  Awa  II,  Cameroon  Biodiversity 
Conservation  Society  (CBCS),  PO  Box  3055,  Messa, 
Yaounde.  E-mail:  takuawa@yahoo.co.uk. 

Canada:  Antonio  Salvadori,  17  Colborn  Street,  Guelph, 
Ontario.  NIG  2M4.  E-mail:  Salvadori@rogers.com. 
Canary  Islands/Spain:  Tony  Clarke,  Repriblica 
Dominicana  No.  61,  Barrio  de  Fatima,  38500 
Gtiimar,  Tenerife.  E-mail:  bluechafifmch@ 
btopenworld.com. 

Central  African  Republic:  Nigel  Voaden,  18  Fair  Hill, 
Shipham,  Winscombe,  Somerset  BS25  1TH,  UK. 
E-mail:  nigel.voaden@talk21.com. 

Denmark:  Uffe  Gjol  Sorensen,  Ovengaden  Oven 
Vandet  68,2,  1415  Copenhagen.  E-mail:  ugs@post7. 
tele.dk. 

Democratic  Republic  of  Congo:  Byamana  Robert 
Kizungu,  Head  of  Ornithology  Laboratory,  CRSN- 
Lwiro,  DRC.  BP02  Cyangugu,  Rwanda.  E-mail: 
kbyamana@yahoo.com. 

Djibouti:  Abdi  Jama,  c/o  Guelle  Osman  Guelle, 

PO  Box  239,  Djibouti  City.  E-mail:  abdi.jama@ 
ymail.com. 

Egypt:  Sherif  & Mindy  Baha  El  Din,  2 Abdalla  El 
Katib  St.  Apt.  3,  Dokki,  Cairo.  Tel/Fax:  3608160. 
E-mail:  egyptcalling@yahoo.com. 

Eritrea:  Russom  Teklay,  c/o  Andeberhan  Telday, 

PFDJ,  zone:  Maekel,  sub-zone:  south  east,  PO  Box 
4618,  Asmara.  E-mail  russotek79@yahoo.com. 
Ethiopia:  Mengistu  Wondafrash,  Ethiopian  Wildlife 
& Natural  History  Society,  PO  Box  13303,  Addis 
Ababa.  E-mail:  m.wondafrash@ewnhs.org.et. 

France:  Bob  & Franchise  Dowsett,  Le  Pouget, 

Sumene,  F30440.  E-mail:  Dowsett@aol.com. 

Finland:  Annika  Forsten,  Tornvalksv.  2 bst  15, 

02620  Esbo.  E-mail:  annika.forsren@elisaner.fi. 


Supported  and  Affiliated  Membership 

The  Supporting  Members  scheme  is  a key  part 
of  the  Club’s  strategy  of  encouraging  the  spread 
of  knowledge  and  understanding  of  birds  as 
widely  as  possible  throughout  Africa.  The  scheme 
enables  Africans  who  would  not  otherwise  have 
the  resources  to  join,  to  become  members  of 
the  Club.  The  scheme  is  funded  by  Supporting 
Members  who  pay  a minimum  of  UKT30  to 
cover  their  own  membership  and  rhe  subscription 
of  at  least  one  African  member.  The  money  they 
contribute  over  and  above  their  own  subscription 
is  placed  in  a special  fund  that  is  used  ro  cover 
the  membership  expenses  of  African  members 
whom  they  may  have  nominated,  or  who  have 
been  nominated  by  other  Club  members. 

Although  we  have  suggested  a minimum 
of  UK£30  to  become  a Supporting  Member, 
any  contribution  is  welcome.  All  members  of  rhe 
Club,  even  if  they  do  not  feel  able  to  become 
Supporting  Members  themselves,  are  invited  to 
nominate  candidates  for  supported  memberships. 
Candidates  should  be  nationals  of  an  African 
country,  with  a genuine  interest  in  wild  birds 
but  without  the  resources  to  become  members 
in  their  own  right.  Africans  who  think  they 
may  qualify  are  very  welcome  to  put  their  own 


ABC  Representatives 

The  Gambia:  Solomon  Jallow,  c/o  WABSA, 
Department  of  Parks  & Wildlife,  Management  HQ, 
Abuko  Nature  Reserve,  Abuko,  PMB  676  S/K. 
E-mail:  habitatafrica@hotmail.com. 

Ghana:  Samuel  Kofi  Nyame,  PO  Box  KIA  30284, 
Airport,  Accra.  E-mail:  samknyame02@yahoo.com. 

Italy:  Giuseppe  Micali,  Via  Volterra  3,  Milano, 

MI  1-20146.  E-mail:  xeaym@tin.it. 

Kenya:  George  Were  Eshiamwata,  BirdLife 
International,  Africa  Partnership  Secretariat,  ICIPE 
Campus,  Kasarani,  PO  Box  3502,  00100  GPO 
Nairobi.  E-mail:  george.eshiamwata@birdlife.org.ke. 

Liberia:  Moses  A.  Massah,  Society  for  the 
Conservation  of  Nature  of  Liberia,  Monrovia  Zoo, 
PO  Box  2628,  Monrovia.  E-mail:  mosesmassah@ 
yahoo.com. 

Libya:  Abdulmaula  A.  Hamza,  Head,  Marine 
Conservation,  Nature  Conservation  Dept., 
Environment  General  Authority  EGA,  Box  13793 
Tripoli.  E-mail:  abdhamza@gmail.com. 

Madagascar:  J ulien  Ramanampamonjy, 

Section  Oiseaux,  PBZT,  BP  4096,  101  Antananarivo. 
E-mail:  julien_asity@mel.moov.mg  (mark  FAO: 

J ulien  Ramanampamonjy). 

Malawi:  Tiwonge  Mzumara,  c/o  Likhubula  House, 

PO  Box  111,  Mulanje.  E-mail:  tiwongem@yahoo.com. 

Namibia:  Tim  Osborne,  PO  Box  22,  Okaukuejo, 
vis  Outjo  9000.  E-mail:  kori@iway.na. 

Nigeria:  Phil  Hall,  A.  P.  Leventis  Ornithological 
Research  Institute,  Jos.  E-mail:  philhall.obe@ 
btinternet.com. 

Rwanda:  Marcell  Claassen,  Elegantafrica,  PO  Box  181, 
Musanze.  E-mail:  marcell@elegantafrica.com 

Sao  Tome  & Principe:  Angus  Gascoigne,  CP  289, 

Sao  Tome.  E-mail:  agascoigne@eits.st. 

Seychelles:  Adrian  Skerrett,  Shipping  House, 

PO  Box  336,  Victoria,  Mahe.  Fax:  380538.  E-mail: 
malieship@seychelles.net  or  adrian@skerrett.fsnet. 
co.uk. 

Sierra  Leone:  Kenneth  Gbengba,  Conservation 
Society  of  Sierra  Leone,  2 Pyke  Street,  PO  Box 
1292,  Freetown,  Sierra  Leone.  E-mail:  factsfinding@ 
yahoo.com. 

Somaliland/Somalia:  Abdi  Jama,  c/o  Guelle  Osman 
Guelle,  PO  Box  239,  Djibouti  City,  Republic  of 
Djibouti.  E-mail:  abdi.jama@ymail.com. 

South  Africa:  Adam  Riley,  Managing  Director, 
Rockjumper  Birding  Tours,  PO  Box  13972,  Cascades 
3202.  E-mail:  info@rockjumper.co.za. 


names  forward,  supporred  by  a letter  of  recom- 
mendation from  someone  such  as  their  employer, 
teacher  or  an  officeholder  in  a local  wildlife 
organisation. 

The  scheme  now  also  includes  clubs  who 
wish  to  be  affiliated  with  the  African  Bird  Club 
in  African  countries  where  ir  is  difficult  for  local 
individuals  to  become  members  in  their  own 
right.  Clubs  accepted  for  membership  under 
the  scheme  receive  up  to  six  copies  of  each 
issue  of  the  bulletin  for  circulation  among  rheir 
members.  Instead  of  paying  a membership  fee, 
Clubs  are  asked  to  provide  a short  annual  report 
on  their  activities  that  may  be  published  in  rhe 
bulletin.  Clubs  interested  in  becoming  Affiliated 
Member  Clubs  are  invited  to  apply  to  rhe  ABC 
Secretary  giving  details  of  their  membership,  their 
constitution  or  a statement  of  their  objectives 
and  conditions  of  their  membership,  and  their 
activities  to  date. 

ABC  Information  Service 

ABC  offers  a sendee  to  help  members  with 
information  requests.  Perhaps  you  are  planning 
a trip  to  Africa  and  need  local  advice,  or  maybe 
you  are  in  search  of  an  obscure  fact  about  an 
African  species.  The  Club  does  not  guarantee 


Swaziland:  Dr  Ara  Monadjem,  UN1SWA,  P/Bag  4, 
Kwaluseni.  E-mail:  ara@tmiswacc.uniswa.sz. 
Tanzania:  Lota  Melamari,  CEO/Coordinator,  Wildlife 
Conservation  Society  of  Tanzania,  Garden  Avenue, 
Plot  39;  PO  Box  70919,  Dar  es  Salaam.  E-mail: 
melamarilota@yahoo.co.uk. 

Tunisia:  Hichem  Azafzaf,  1 1 rue  Abou  el  alia  el  maari, 
Cite  el  houda,  2080  Ariana.  E-mail:  azafzaf@gnet.tn. 
Uganda:  Prof.  Derek  Pomeroy,  Makerere  University 
Institute  of  the  Environment  and  Natural  Resources, 
PO  Box  7298,  Kampala.  E-mail:  derek@imul.com. 
USA:  Kurt  Leuschner,  70065  Sonora  Road  #267, 
Mountain  Centre,  CA  92561. E-mail:  kleuschner@ 
collegeofthedesert.edu. 

Zambia:  Rod  Tether,  Kutandala  Camp,  North 
Luangwa  NP.  E-mail:  rod@kutandala.com 
Zimbabwe:  The  Executive  Officer,  BirdLife 
Zimbabwe,  PO  Box  RVL100,  Runiville,  Harare. 
E-mail:  birds@zol.co.zw. 

The  ABC  Representatives  scheme  aims  to  support 
existing  members  by  providing  a local  point  of 
contact  in  their  region,  for  example,  to  answer  queries 
to  the  Club,  to  solicit  submissions  for  the  bulletin, 
and  possibly  to  arrange  local  meetings  for  members. 
Existing  ABC  members  can  contact  their  local 
Representative  in  the  first  instance  with  queries  relating 
to  the  Club.  ABC  Representatives  help  to  recruit  new 
members  in  their  region,  for  example,  by  distributing 
posters  and  arranging  local  advertising.  In  Africa,  ABC 
Representatives  help  to  identify  opportunities  to  invest 
the  ABC  Conservation  Fund  and  candidates  for  the 
Supported  Membership  scheme. 

The  Club  aims  to  appoint  many  further  ABC 
Representatives.  If  you  are  interested  in  supporting 
and  promoting  the  Club  in  your  region,  have  any 
queries,  or  require  further  information  relating  to  the 
ABC  Representatives  scheme  please  do  not  hesitate  to 
contact  the  Membership  Secretary  at  the  Club  address, 
e-mail  membership@africanbirdclub.org. 

ABC  is  seeking  Country  Representatives  in  the 
following  countries,  principally  within  the  Club’s 
region:  Algeria,  Azores,  Benin,  Burkina  Faso,  Burundi, 
Cameroon,  Cape  Verde  Islands,  Chad,  Comoros  & 
Mayotte,  Cote  d’Ivoire,  Djibouti,  Equatorial  Guinea, 
Gabon,  Guinea-Bissau,  Guinea  Conakry',  Madeira, 
Mali,  Mauritania,  Mauritius,  Morocco,  Mozambique, 
Netherlands,  Niger,  Reunion,  Rodriguez,  Senegal, 
Socotra,  Somalia,  St  Helena,  Sudan,  Togo,  Tristan  da 
Cunha  and  USA. 

to  find  all  the  answers  but  will  try'  to  help.  The 
service  is  free  to  ABC  members.  Contact:  Keith 
Betton,  who  is  also  custodian  of  ABC’s  journal 
library',  at  8 Dukes  Close,  Folly  Hill,  Farnham, 
Surrey,  GU9  ODR,  UK.  Tel:  +44  1252  724068. 
E-mail:  info@africanbirdclub.org. 

AfricanBirding  e-mail  discussion  list 

Launched,  in  October  2000,  by  the  ABC  and 
the  Pan-African  Ornithological  Congress, 
AfricanBirding  or  AB,  as  it  is  known,  has  become 
a useful  forum  for  those  interested  in  African 
birds.  To  join  the  discussion,  which  averages 
1-2  messages  a day,  send  a blank  e-mail  to 
AfricanBirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. 

You  will  then  receive  an  e-mail  instructing  you 
how  to  join. 

The  Club  also  maintains  a list  of  members’ 
e-mail  addresses.  This  list  is  confidential  and  used 
only  for  Club  purposes,  e.g.  for  informing  mem- 
bers of  upcoming  events  and  news  concerning 
the  Club.  It  is  not  divulged  to  anybody  outside 
the  Club  or  used  for  commercial  advertising.  At 
present  ir  includes  addresses  for  about  50%  of 
the  membership.  Please  send  any  additions  or 
amendments  to  the  membership  secretary':  mem- 
bership@africanbirdclub.org. 


Yellowbill  / Malcoha  a bee  jaune  Ceuthmochares  aereus  by  Guy  Upfold,  www.birdinfo.co.za